Tag: Negative

Optimistic Leaders

Optimism includes hope and confidence about the future or outcome.

The contrast between leaders who are optimistic and those who are not can be associated with age and experience. Encountering negative experiences in life often hinders optimistic leadership.

How do leaders keep hope and confidence alive?

1) Remember, “everyone” is not against you.
2) Stop trying to live in or change the past.
3) Surround yourself with optimistic people.
4) Be realistic about personal expectations.
5) Learn to accept who you are as a person.
6) Express gratitude for what you have.
7) Reflect often on the positive areas of life.

Try it and see how contagious it becomes.

Bad Things Happen

No one is immune to the negative, discouraging, or “bad” that occurs, even if we chalk it up to perspective.

However, regardless of perspective, the choice we make when these events happen is what makes the difference.

It has been said, “When something bad happens you have three choices. You can let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.” Author Unknown

If difficulties define us, we tend to focus on the drudgery of life.
If difficulties destroy us, then life becomes little more than existence.
If difficulties strengthen us, we are better prepared to help others face the same challenges.

Power of Positive Thinking

The concept of positive thinking is not new for anyone. However, developing the mind of leadership requires us to consider the influence of our attitude on everyone around us.

Sadly, at some point we will deal with those who are critical and negative. They look for ways to put others down or criticize. We could spend several posts to discuss why, but that is not the point.

We must remember to utilize our strength and courage to believe in ourselves and use negativity or criticism in a way that becomes positive in an effort to achieve our plans.

This characterizes the power of our leadership.

Trust and Respect

When leadership fails there is a loss of trust and respect.

The task before leaders is learning what to do to regain trust and respect when it has been lost.

Three negatives: 1) Do not ignore or deny it, 2) Do not attempt to cover it up, and 3) Never blame someone else.

Instead, consider four positives: 1) Admit the failure, 2) Be specific about the failure), 3) Ask for forgiveness, and 4) Give a step by step plan for overcoming the failure.

A simple upfront approach is where the healing begins.

Change

Why does the idea of “change” create such fear on the part of so many people? One possible answer is the idea that change brings something negative or bad. Change is also associated with introducing liberalism.

Change, however, can be a positive, powerful, and necessary approach to growth. Mandy Hale says, “Change can be scary, but you know what’s scarier? Allowing fear to stop you from growing, evolving, and progressing.”

Change is biblical; we call it repentance. It still means change.

Our fear of change must not stifle us from achieving all that God can do through us if we will but change.

Finding Our Strength (Part 2)

Where does the strength we need come from when we find ourselves in difficult times? Consider two possibilities.

1) Find a way to express your feelings and share the burden with someone. One of the most helpful avenues to find strength is through expression, which can take numerous forms: writing, singing, talking, physical activity, and more.

2) Remember God’s goodness and trust He knows our plight. An area that provides strength is memory. The ability to remember is a precious gift. While we often remember the negative side of life, we also remember God’s providential blessings. He will see us through.

Highlight Reel Leadership

While watching ESPN recently, I noticed the negative way commentators used the highlights of a specific NBA player. They only showed the mistakes he made over the last few months. The intent was to question his ability to play at the needed level.

I’ve seen enough highlight clips to know it works both ways. Most often, commentators highlight the incredible plays from an athletes career to showcase their ability.

It made me wonder about leadership. When people look at our lives and replay the highlights, do they showcase the amazing ways we’ve influenced others for good, or do they only show the negative?

We must live in a way to showcase the positive changes our leadership makes.

The Ecstatic Leader

Leaders are responsible for solutions, maintaining a positive morale, and addressing the challenges head-on in order to keep the organization moving forward.

Rarely do we associate the idea of glamorous with leadership.

Consider the impact a leader has when their energy level is the driving force to accomplish goals.

What it comes down to is a decision. We can permit ourselves to be drawn into the negative side of leadership, or we can choose to step up with a different approach, changing direction in ways that influence others toward greater achievement.

Either way, the choice is ours. Let us make an ecstatic impact.

Positive Leadership

Our world is immersed in negativity.

We experience it in our schools, work, home, and the church. Just writing these words comes across as negative, so how can we turn it around and maintain a positive focus?

1) Spend time with positive people. Use the time God gives us to be with positive influences.

2) Stop and think. Decide to only say something that builds up others in a positive way.

3) Eliminate excuses. What we say and do is the result of a choice. Choose the positive.

4) Be the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. A positive attitude is contagious.

Find a positive way to lead that is worth your time. (See Philippians 4:8)

Leading With Attitude

The attitude of a leader makes the difference.

A negative, self-centered, sadistic, apathetic, and indifferent attitude is destructive. At the same time, a positive, self-less, compassionate, and thoughtful attitude is powerful.

I once heard the question asked, “Is your attitude worth catching?

What can we do to improve our attitude?

1) We need to be careful what we allow into our mind.
2) Develop positive affirmations and write them down.
3) Avoid emotional “vampires” who tend to suck the joy out of any good situation.
4) Set and achieve daily goals.
5) Act like a “maniac.” MaryAnn Troiani says “happy people are maniacs on a mission.”