This week I have been conducting a workshop about transformative conversations. We talked about instances where people feel energized and more productive, as opposed to feeling stressed and not productive. As you can imagine, there was a lively discussion about it with many examples of each kind shared.
Two things grabbed my attention:
- About 90% of the people said they felt energized by challenges, whether solving something difficult, or helping someone with a problem. Even at times of high stress due to volume of work, the challenge made them feel energized. For them, challenging work = increased productivity.
- About 85% of the people present mentioned negativity as the main culprit for feeling depleted of energy, lower productivity, and a decrease in creativity. Attendants mentioned that when they heard mostly criticism, without the balance of receiving recognition for a job well done, negative stress built up and it was harder to perform well
There is a lesson for leaders here: positive leadership creates a positive environment by focusing on challenges and opportunities instead of problems. Positive leadership expresses acknowledgment and genuine, heartfelt appreciation for work well done. It does not cost much, and yet has a big positive impact, creating trust, lowering stress, and increasing productivity.
If you want to create a positive environment in your workplace, and increase productivity, give appreciation and a focus on the positive a try. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results
As a leader, how do you remind yourself to focus on the positive and give appreciation without ulterior motives? How can you express appreciation when deserved instead of waiting for performance reviews? How do you think the culture of your organization would change if you had a more positive leadership style? I will like to hear your thoughts and comments.