How to Be a Positive Leader

How can leaders unlock the full potential of their teams while fostering positivity and high performance?

1. Energizing Interactions Boost Creativity

Positive interactions at work create an energetic and creative environment. High-quality connections, where both participants are invigorated, play a significant role in personal and professional growth. For example, a friendly morning chat with a coworker about a shared interest can spark motivation and energy for the day.

Leaders can promote such connections by showing genuine respect and focus during interactions. This means actively listening to employees, turning away from distractions like phones or emails, and encouraging open communication. Respectful engagement not only helps employees feel valued but also facilitates better collaboration.

Additionally, companies can foster team bonding through playful activities. Team-building games, like orienteering, or having recreational equipment in the workplace, such as ping-pong tables, encourage employees to interact positively, building rapport and strengthening teamwork.

Examples

• A manager dedicates focused time in one-on-one meetings, reassuring team members of their value.
• A company organizes regular team outings to build camaraderie.
• An office adds game zones to promote casual and friendly interactions.

2. Meaningful Work Drives Motivation

Employees thrive when they understand the purpose behind their work. Feeling that their efforts benefit others beyond the company increases their intrinsic motivation. For instance, university call center employees raised more donations after meeting a student whose scholarship depended on their work.

Leaders can ensure employees see the impact of their contributions by creating opportunities for direct contact with end users. At Medtronic, an annual event where patients shared life-changing experiences with company products highlighted employees’ importance. This deepened their motivation and commitment to excellence.

When direct exposure to beneficiaries isn’t feasible, storytelling can create similar effects. Merrill Lynch’s practice of starting meetings with customer success stories inspired employees, reminding them of the value of their work.

Examples

• A company hosts events where employees meet customers who benefited from their products or services.
• Leaders regularly share anecdotes illustrating how their teams make a difference.
• Employees at an investment bank discuss helping customers during weekly team meetings, instilling pride in their achievements.

3. Mindful Negotiation Yields Better Outcomes

Effective negotiation relies on emotional control. Emotions like anger or frustration can sabotage outcomes unless managed carefully. Mindful negotiation helps individuals stay present and focused, avoiding negative thoughts about past grievances or future worries.

When negotiating for a higher salary, for example, concentrating on presenting clear evidence of contributions rather than harboring resentment towards a dismissive manager can increase the likelihood of success. By sidelining emotions and emphasizing logic, individuals can approach discussions constructively.

Understanding others’ feelings can also aid negotiations. Instead of reacting angrily when someone behaves insensitively, seek to understand their perspective, enabling a calmer resolution and preserving relationships.

Examples

• An employee focuses on showcasing achievements rather than recalling past conflicts during a salary discussion.
• A manager patiently listens to a frustrated coworker, identifying shared goals and resolving disputes amicably.
• A worker refrains from responding emotionally to criticism and instead seeks constructive feedback.

4. Thriving Fuels Confidence and Energy

Thriving—a sense of growth and vitality—makes employees more engaged, courageous, and less prone to burnout. Thriving individuals feel energized by their work instead of exhausted, leading to heightened satisfaction and creativity.

Encouraging thriving involves cultivating a positive environment where disrespectful behaviors are not tolerated. Danny Meyers, a restaurateur, exemplifies this by enforcing civility in his kitchens, fostering mutual respect and collaboration.

On a personal level, employees can invest in growth through learning new skills and seeking feedback while maintaining their physical health with regular exercise and sufficient rest. Rested, active individuals are more likely to stay upbeat and energetic throughout the day.

Examples

• A manager introduces training programs to help employees learn and grow professionally.
• An organization prioritizes mental health initiatives, creating supportive environments for employees.
• An individual adopts a routine that includes workouts and seven hours of sleep every night to boost workplace positivity.

5. Positive Identities Spur Better Work

A positive self-view leads to happier employees who produce superior work. Identifying with growth, integration of life roles, virtuousness, and being appreciated by others are central to fostering a positive identity.

Leaders can enhance positive identities using techniques like the reflected best-self exercise, where employees discover strengths through feedback from others. Leveraging these strengths at work helps individuals feel more capable and valued.

By creating environments where employees feel esteemed, successful leaders ensure everyone’s personality and efforts are recognized and celebrated, reinforcing morale and productivity while reducing turnover.

Examples

• An employee uses their talent for empathy to mediate workplace conflicts.
• Leaders provide formal opportunities for employees to reflect on their qualities and accomplishments.
• A company recognizes personal and professional milestones through thoughtful celebrations.

6. Job Crafting Encourages Individual Success

When employees customize their roles to align with their strengths and passions, they perform better and feel fulfilled. Job crafting allows individuals to personalize tasks, interactions, and objectives, tailoring work to their personalities.

For instance, an employee with a passion for mentorship might adjust their role to include coaching new hires, making their work more rewarding and impactful. Similarly, an executive passionate about sustainability could take on projects aligning with their values.

Flexible crafting fosters a sense of autonomy and purpose. Companies supporting this not only see improved performance but also experience lower absenteeism and increased proactivity among staff.

Examples

• A marketer incorporates social media campaigns into their responsibilities, driven by personal interest.
• A teacher passionate about theater starts an afterschool drama club, enriching both their own and students’ experiences.
• A data analyst designs engaging presentations reflecting their creativity and technological expertise.

7. Virtuousness Elevates Workplace Morale

Values like gratitude, honesty, and forgiveness contribute to both employee well-being and organizational performance. Acts of virtue, such as helping a colleague, enhance happiness and promote a sense of purpose.

Leaders can cultivate virtues such as gratitude by encouraging employees to maintain gratitude journals. Additionally, setting meaningful and socially impactful corporate goals—like Apple’s ambition to make computers accessible to all—instills shared purpose, inspiring employees to give their best.

Virtuousness isn’t just ethical; it supports measurable growth by improving interpersonal relationships, work commitment, and overall satisfaction.

Examples

• Employees note daily gratitude in journals, improving their mood and resilience.
• Organizations emphasize charitable activities, like donations or community involvement.
• A company sets long-term targets benefiting society, encouraging staff unity.

8. Ethical Leadership Builds Trust and Performance

Employees thrive under ethical leaders who demonstrate justice, care, and respect. Studies show that leaders with integrity inspire higher performance while creating meaningful connections in the workplace.

Ethical leaders also promote a culture of reciprocity, where employees mirror their fair practices by behaving respectfully toward peers and customers. Furthermore, they avoid decisions that contradict core values, even if doing so risks profitability.

By consistently upholding transparency and ethical standards, leaders not only bolster performance but also shield companies from ethical failings and bad press.

Examples

• A CEO refuses partnership with companies exploiting unethical labor practices.
• A manager prioritizes employee rights, fostering mutual respect and dedication.
• Leaders promote workplace open discussions focused on fairness and values.

9. Hope as a Catalyst for Excellence

Hope inspires action by promoting confidence in achieving better outcomes. Leaders who instill hope inspire goal-oriented behavior, driving excellence even in the toughest circumstances.

Acting with hope involves setting ambitious aspirations and treating them as achievable. Ray Anderson’s environmentally conscious carpet company exemplifies this approach—by declaring impossible goals and persistently working toward them, he achieved remarkable progress.

Additionally, hope flourishes during hardships when steered with optimism, as exemplified by Rwanda’s hopeful drum group promoting unity through music.

Examples

• A manager encourages employees to envision future success despite current setbacks.
• A nonprofit leader motivates the team with a vision of societal change.
• An entrepreneur pursues innovation despite market doubts, invigorating employees to follow their lead.

Takeaways

1. Show genuine appreciation in every interaction by giving full and focused attention.
2. Encourage employees to align their roles with passions and strengths for greater satisfaction and creativity.
3. Build hope in your team by setting inspiring goals, taking first steps, and embracing optimism.