You Better Check Your Attitude. (#189)
The Confident Leader
BOOST YOUR LEADERSHIP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
While collaborating with a colleague on a client’s leadership program, a single statement resonated. I find myself reflecting on her wisdom about the impact a leader’s attitude has on the organization.
“It’s those changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
With all of our running and all of our cunning
If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane”
― Jimmy Buffet (American songwriter)
This Week’s Edition
During challenging times, sometimes leaders need an attitude check.
Clarify Your Thinking
My colleague said, “attitude isn’t everything, but it is the difference maker.” I’ve pondered this statement in almost every coaching session since. I’ve found that a leader’s attitude has the power to turn the tide in almost any situation.
My friend, Carl, offers a clear example of the power of attitude. Every day I enter my office building, I am greeted by Carl, our dedicated security guard. He’s always smiling. Always cheerful. We trade witty banter. He giggles. I laugh. My day is brightened.
Even when he’s chatting with someone else, I smile as I listen to him. How can his attitude have such an impact on me even when we don’t engage directly?
Old Thinking: It doesn’t matter how I show up as long as I get the job done. No one can be positive all the time. That’s fake. Plus no one knows what I’m thinking anyway.
New Thinking: They say that the leader is constantly scrutinized. How I show up matters. I’ve got to be conscious of how my attitude sets the tone for the rest of the team.
Thoughts Lead to Actions
Carl chooses to engage in a lobby morning meet and greet versus hunkering down in his office, and as the de facto leader of our building, his attitude sets the standard for positivity and engagement.
A leader’s attitude has more sway on their team (and the organization) given their elevated position. Teams instinctively react to a leader’s attitude whatever it may be. Team culture can even mirror a leader’s attitude – positive or negative.
Carl’s model is a reminder for leaders to actively assess the impact of their attitude. Think about the impact of these three common types of leadership attitudes:
A negative attitude can generate:
- Performance out of fear
- Confusion
- A wait-and-see approach
- A culture of fear
A driven attitude may generate:
- Performance
- Paralysis – fear of making a mistake
- A group mentality of it’s-never-enough
A positive attitude generates:
- Performance
- Upbeat morale
- A culture of risk-taking
- Collaboration
Do you need an attitude check? By thinking about your attitude, you can make the proactive decision to be positive, uplifting those around you and fostering a culture of resilience, innovation, and collaboration.
Boost Your Performance
Watch this week’s video to learn how to cultivate a more positive impactful attitude.
What’s Your Opinion?
How would you describe your everyday attitude?? Share it with me at robin.pou@robinpou.com.
If you are going to be a leader, you might as well be a good one. Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!
Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist
We live to make bad leadership extinct so forward this newsletter to others who strive to be confident leaders.
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What is “The Confident Leader”?
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, I began a video series called “Panic or Plan?” It was designed to equip leaders to navigate the doubt they experienced and to rise in the confidence they needed to lead during turbulent times. It took off. I then started this newsletter to equip leaders in the same fashion each week for the doubt that crashes across the bow of their leaderSHIP.
