Practicing positive leadership can be as effortless as switching on a light switch, which like the bulb that lights up the room, can amplify people’s positive mindsets and emotions, creating powerful ripple effects that make it worth spending those seconds to make the best choice.
When we recognise the role that emotions play in our culture, we can ensure that we are influencing them positively. By thinking of emotions as information, or data, it can give leaders huge clues as to what is going on within their teams.
Our attention oscillates between excitation and dullness. Only when we attempt for the first time to direct and hold our attention in a single place for even a few moments do we become vividly aware of just how chaotic our minds really are.
If we’re running low on dopamine, it will affect our ability to think clearly, focus, make good decisions - or any decisions at all! - and manage and regulate our emotions. Dopamine is triggered by the reward centre of our brain, so most things that generate rewards for us will release dopamine.
Social neuroscience explores the biological foundations of the way humans relate to each other. By understanding the importance of social neuroscience in the workplace, leaders can create high trust cultures that will deliver measurable improvements in team communication, collaboration and performance.
Positive emotions have a strengthening effect on our bodies and our brains. They improve our immune system, calm our systems from negative impacts, allow our brains to function well, and strengthen relationships. There is both a healing and a bonding element to positive emotions.
When we are being mindless, we are losing out to our attention. Psychologist Michael Posner argues that the psychological concept of attention is as important to understanding consciousness as DNA is to understanding life. He says, ‘Consciousness can be divided into awareness of the world around us and voluntary control of our own thoughts and behaviour.
In today’s fast-paced and complex world, employees increasingly seek meaning and purpose in their work beyond financial incentives. Research highlights the importance of positive leadership in providing employees with a sense of meaning, fulfilment, and alignment with organisational values and goals.
When leaders are Other-focused, they can facilitate the conditions that cultivate high trust and deep engagement as a natural consequence of their communication and presence. An easy place to start is to ask more questions - both of others and also ourselves.
Positive leaders tune into the importance of creating the right environment to have this sort of support present for everyone, and recognise how it can inspire trust and confidence, while also facilitating collaboration, teamwork and mutual encouragement to strive for high performance.
