Great leaders inspire success and influence the behavior of people around them. Regardless of your position or level in the company, your leadership qualities can be traced through breadcrumbs of happy employees, high production, and a positive working environment. Being positive is key to success in any business. Being positive doesn't mean becoming a person who's all-smiles, fun-loving, let's-celebrate type of individual. We're talking about becoming an inspiring individual. A true positive force in an organization casts a sense of commitment, dedication, integrity, and forward-thinking attitude.
Here are some tips for leaders and for professionals who are not in a management role:
Stop Complaining. Life is not perfect, my friend. Everyone knows that. Instead of constantly complaining about what went wrong or what's not good about your organization, find solutions to the problem. Stop approaching your boss or your peers with complaints. Instead, find ways to resolve them on your own, or at least offer up some solutions if you have to bring it up to someone. Look at these imperfect work situations as opportunities for you to shine and make things better for everyone.
First ask, "What works?" Often, you'll find yourself in a meeting trying to improve a team or a process. Instead of asking your team "what the problem is," a better way to start that conversation is to have everyone voice out what actually works and what good is actually happening within the team. This rejuvenates past wins and reminds everyone of the strengths of the team. Once people have their minds set to the things that "work," it's now easier to tackle some of the current struggles that your team is experiencing. Bringing up the things that work may organically surface solutions to these problems.
No backstabbing, no gossiping. This is a cancer in any organization. There is no good that can come out of these activities. Backstabbing and gossiping places your integrity in question. How can you be successful in your career if people around you do not trust you? (I'll discuss more about dealing with workplace conflicts in another post.)
Don't speak ill of former bosses or colleagues. This goes back to integrity. It's never a good idea to talk bad about others. Doing this can be considered slanderous.
Don't be lazy. Be dynamic. Be energetic. Don't dwell in the past. Try new things. Explore better avenues. Always keep things fresh. This item also covers being "open to change."
Stop pointing fingers. Own up to your faults. Be accountable to the decisions you make. If it's someone else's fault, redirect the conversation to focus on finding a solution first. "It doesn't matter who dropped the ball, let's figure out a way to get this right."
Be open to the ideas of others. No man is an island. If you shut-off ideas brought up by the people around you, (direct reports, peers, or your boss) it shows that you're not a team player, you're egoistic, and it can also show that you're incompetent. According to a team led by Nathanael J. Fast of the University of Southern California, "Incompetent managers who are personally threatened by employee suggestions send signals that they are unreceptive, shutting off avenues for new ideas."
Give credit where credit is due. It's always a great gesture to compliment the good work of others. This shows that you're appreciative and it promotes goodwill within your organization. Another thing that's related to this item is, "don't take credit for things others have done." If someone mistakenly gives you a compliment about something you're not a part of, promptly correct that person and direct them to the right person who made the accomplishment.
Be Honest. Sometimes the truth is difficult to hear, but growth and development can only come from honest conversations and feedback loops. - Stacie Reynolds, Manager, Training Facilitation (@NavyFederal)
This list should be a good starting point on your way to becoming a positive force in your organization. I'm sure there are more tips out there to add to this list. Please do share your own tips in the comments below. I'll add yours to this list. Don't worry, I'll fully exercise my tip #8.