The Best Thing I Saw This Week<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

I had an experience like that this week. Being a naturally curious person, I couldn\u2019t help but watch as a gentleman talked with the receptionist behind the window, smiling and swaying the entire time.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the best thing I saw this week.<\/p>\n

So how does this relate to organizational effectiveness, leadership, culture? I can see a strong connection. I\u2019ll try to explain.<\/p>\n

One of the most crippling conditions I encounter in organizations is negativity. I often encounter leaders who ask, \u201cWhat am I supposed to do about that?\u201d If you<\/em> asked me that question, I would guide us through a discovery process that looked something like this:<\/p>\n

Step 1 \u2013Do you understand how your disposition affects people?<\/h3>\n

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?<\/p>\n

\n
• Heighten your self-awareness of the kinds of things you talk about \u2013 business-related and not. Are you sharing issues and stories that are inherently positive?
  \nFor example, do you talk about
  \na)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 having to replace your hot water tank or
  \nb)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the afternoon hiking you did with your family?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
  \n
  • Also think about whether your natural style is to present positively or negatively.
    \nFor example, does a customer\u2019s request to expedite an order mean
    \na)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 that we need to turn the shop upside down because of an overly demanding customer or
    \nb)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 that we have an opportunity to delight a customer?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Step 2 \u2013 Are there sources of negativity among your team?<\/h3>\n

    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\u2019ve found that work the best are:<\/p>\n

    \n
    • Focus the team on the mission to remind them of the greater cause by which they are all connected<\/li>\n
    • Ensure that expectations of appropriate workplace behaviors are understood<\/li>\n
    • Don\u2019t allow negativity to dominate the airwaves<\/li>\n
    • Inject so much positive into the environment that the negative is squeezed out<\/li>\n
    • Focus on a holistic view of performance \u2013 not just what gets done but also how it gets done<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      So where do you start?<\/h3>\n

      Here\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      What\u2019s the best thing you\u2019ve seen this week? Take a moment to think about your answer. Now, consider how it made you feel and how the rest of your day went. 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\u2026 and it was a positive one!  As I replay it in my mind, I think about the effect our disposition has on others and the general mood of the work environment. The good news is that much of what needs to be done is in our control. If you\u2019re dealing with negativity among your team, I have some great tips to help you out. Click the link below to hear about the best thing I saw this week and to see tips for shaping a more positive work environment. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[26,27,28],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=659"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":668,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659\/revisions\/668"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thepeopleadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}