Here’s the overview of the second part from my next book: “Positive Power at Work – How to make a positive difference from any position.” Do you want to have more impact? Part Two explores what the “Positive Mindset of Possibilities” entails – compared to conventional thinking. This is where you start to expand the difference you make! You can …
Positive Power – Overview Part One
Welcome to this overview of the first 18 blog posts from my next book: “Positive Power at Work – How to make a positive difference from any position.” You can make a positive difference from any position, without needing permission or resources from others. This book will help you see positive possibilities and (re)claim your positive agency. Unstuck yourself and …
What does your body say?
If you suspect that you might need to clean up some emotional issues before you can be an authentic person at work – Steve Sisgold is your man. In his practical book What is your body telling you? he shares many exercises to tap into the wisdom of your body and your inner knowing. We cannot embody positivity if we …
How is your energy?
In The Power of Full Engagement, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwarz write that managing energy, not time, is the key to high performance. To be engaged, we must be energized physically, emotionally connected, mentally focused and spiritually aligned with a purpose beyond our self-interest. For that to happen we also need rest and recovery – something that is less valued …
How authentic can you be?
I hope you are still reading this blog… Why do I go on about transcending fears and feeling safe in spite of human vulnerability? Because authenticity is essential for positive agents. Authenticity also fuels your courage, which helps to be the change you wish to see. Frederic Laloux labeled it “wholeness” in the reinvented, “Teal” organizations that he researched. People …
What is your vulnerability?
Brené Brown explains that until she dealt with shame and fear, she wore different suits of armor that kept her from becoming too vulnerable. She kept people at a safe distance and always had an exit strategy – especially in our culture of cynics and critics. But when you armor yourself – you cut yourself off from others and from …
Do you recognize these five fears?
Brené Brown’s research showed that we have a shame-prone culture. Shame is the fear of not being worthy of belonging. Many suffer from shame – the fear of not being good enough. Shame also leads to blaming others as a way out of feeling this awful emotion. The remedy is to become shame-resilient and especially leaders should “dare greatly” and …
What are you grateful for?
Gratitude has been found to increase individual and group performance and leads to positive behaviors. Paying gratitude visits (to say thank you), writing gratitude letters and keeping a gratitude journal are scientifically proven to work. The practice of keeping a gratitude journal is quite simple. Get a notebook and write down three things that you were grateful for this day. …
What’s your emotion ratio?
How do you feel? But how you feel is crucial to developing a positive culture. You cannot fake it till you make it – as the saying goes. People have a radar for authenticity and if you don’t regularly experience positive emotions – you cannot “be the change” and embody positive leadership. What’s your emotion ratio? Barbara Frederickson’s research found …
What is your Purpose?
You might have an idea of your big Why, your drive or purpose. What is the legacy you would like to leave? What is your contribution that you love to give, your strengths, values, and criteria? So, what is your purpose? Next, write down your vision and mission statement: an intention of who you want to be and how you …
How well do you know yourself?
Research shows that you deliver your greatest contribution if you know yourself well and use your strengths and work according to your values. Here are some exercises and questions to use. The Best Possible Self (BPS) exercise asks you to envision yourself in an imaginary future while everything turned out in the best possible way. Writing and imagining a BPS …
What do you love to do?
A colleague of mine once took a taxi from the airport. The taxi driver asked him what he did. He said he was a consultant who helped organizations become better at change and improve their performance. “That’s not what you do,” the driver disagreed. “What you do is what makes you happy. That’s your gift to the world regardless of …
Are you willing, able and ready?
But what if challenging beliefs like we discussed in the last post doesn’t work? You are willing but not fully able to be a positive agent just yet. We’re not ready. We might need to do some inner work on the level ME. Why? Because you can’t erase your upbringing in the conventional mindset and your life experiences to date …
How to change beliefs?
Do you want to adopt the beliefs and behaviors of the positive mindset? I hope you do. This next part (about 14 blog posts) will be about the “inner work” you can do to develop your personal potential: change beliefs, know yourself better, find your purpose, transcend your fears and what is holding you back, and so on. If we …