In my last communication with you, prior to the election, I asked you to be careful – very careful– of how much of the negativity you let in – to your head and into your company or department.
I hope you chose to heed my advice and I hope that it gave you some good practice for what came next.
The election this week has left people reeling.
Some people are grieving and some people are celebrating. Productivity is suffering everywhere because people need to process what they are feeling no matter what end of that continuum they are currently occupying.
Some people will process it out loud and some will have to do it quietly through their body. As an emotionally intelligent leader, it’s time for you to bring your most compassionate self to work.
Put your own mask on first, however, and make sure you are taking good care of yourself with positive self-talk, healthy clean food and adequate sleep and water.
Then I suggest that you, as positive leader, offer a good example of what I call Realistic Optimism. Here’s the definition I use for this in my life (and the one I teach my clients.)
Realistic Optimism is the ability to maintain a positive outlook without denying reality.
It’s actively appreciating the positive aspects of a situation without ignoring the negative. It’s appropriately responding and not reacting to situations, seeking possibilities not problems. This allows you to preserve a focus on a positive future.
If that sounds difficult (especially if you are someone who is grieving) you’re right, it is.
It requires focus and determination to practice your positive leadership skills. You do it for the benefit of your people and your customers.
Find a positive frame for the situation.
Here’s mine:
It’s obvious that things are broken. Just like we are able to be grateful when a customer gives us feedback about something that is broken in our system, the election process brought to light many of the things the governments’ customers were unhappy about (so to speak.)
It’s a good time to start listening and paying attention to what people need. That makes enormous sense to me. Start where you can – at your place of work. Keep people focused on the good stuff – the possibilities, the things they are grateful for, the happy customers. Keep reminding them of their importance and how they are valued.
Fear makes us stupid.
The stress reaction that fear produces shuts down the front part of the brain – the neo-cortex. We need all the brains and all the creativity we can find right now ~ things just might be in the state of upheaval for a while. Do your best to keep yourself and others from going to fear. Have faith.
Before you leave the house, set your intention about how you want to be today.
Before you walk into your place of work – check what you are broadcasting.
Seth Godin once said “Worrying is not a useful output. Worrying doesn’t change outcomes. Worrying ruins your day. Worrying distracts you from the work at hand. You may have fooled yourself into thinking that it’s useful or unavoidable, but it’s not.”
Do things that are useful and make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Positive Leaders Rock!!
JoAnna
PS – Florida LADIES – I’ll be kicking off the new “Women’s Leadership Series” at the Innovation Hub at Broward College. Thursday, December 8, 2016, I’ll be telling you how to be a Positive Energizer and rock your leadership practice. If you’re down here in South Florida. I have the pleasure of sharing the platform with Wendy Leiber on storytelling, and Jane Bolin sharing her secrets to goals and success. Join us for a lively and productive morning.
A really useful article by Kelly McGonigal on finding good.
https://returnonhappiness.com/careful-careful-theres-nowhere-go-nowhere-hide/
https://returnonhappiness.com/emotions-broadcast-yesterday/
