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The Best Thing I Saw This Week
Have you ever wondered about how much your interaction with people can impact their mood, disposition, and even productivity level? I like to watch people and observe how they interact. I occasionally experience an interaction that is so meaningful it sticks with me for a long, long time.
I had an experience like that this week. Being a naturally curious person, I couldn’t help but watch as a gentleman talked with the receptionist behind the window, smiling and swaying the entire time.
He announced to all within earshot that he had just undergone a procedure that allowed him to regain his hearing. The person he was with added that he was a musician and that now he could experience the joy of playing and listening again. This man was having a great day, and was sharing it to have a positive impact on others. I felt a powerful rush of appreciation and happiness.
That’s the best thing I saw this week.
So how does this relate to organizational effectiveness, leadership, culture? I can see a strong connection. I’ll try to explain.
One of the most crippling conditions I encounter in organizations is negativity. I often encounter leaders who ask, “What am I supposed to do about that?” If you asked me that question, I would guide us through a discovery process that looked something like this:
Step 1 –Do you understand how your disposition affects people?
If you throw off negative vibes, it is unlikely that the work environment for which you are responsible is going to be overly positive. And if that is the case, what should you do?
- Heighten your self-awareness of the kinds of things you talk about – business-related and not. Are you sharing issues and stories that are inherently positive?
For example, do you talk about
a) having to replace your hot water tank or
b) the afternoon hiking you did with your family?
- Also think about whether your natural style is to present positively or negatively.
For example, does a customer’s request to expedite an order mean
a) that we need to turn the shop upside down because of an overly demanding customer or
b) that we have an opportunity to delight a customer?
Step 2 – Are there sources of negativity among your team?
Often there are a small number of people (many times just one) who have assumed the unspoken right to decide whether others are allowed to be happy. While there are multiple ways to deal with people who exude negativity, some that I’ve found that work the best are:
- Focus the team on the mission to remind them of the greater cause by which they are all connected
- Ensure that expectations of appropriate workplace behaviors are understood
- Don’t allow negativity to dominate the airwaves
- Inject so much positive into the environment that the negative is squeezed out
- Focus on a holistic view of performance – not just what gets done but also how it gets done
So where do you start?
Here’s an idea. At the beginning of your next team meeting, talk about the best thing you saw this week. Maybe someone else has something to share as well. Explain that you started the meeting this way because of a renewed commitment to building a positive environment. You have nothing to lose and much to gain by taking this small step.