Positive Leadership Matters

One of the pit stops on my journey to be a better person, a better husband, father, friend, and leader, was reading The Power of Positive Leadership by Jon Gordon.

I had never seen myself as negative, but I knew I had to fight the urge to see the negative reality of circumstances rather than the positive opportunity.

I had recognized through the relationship struggles that surrounded me that my less-than-encouraging or high-expectation nature was exhausting for people.

When I read Jon’s book, actually listened to it, the impact of his message was so seared into my mind that I can vividly remember where I was when the words entered my ears.

I can vividly see green turf below my feet and the green overhead monkey bar structure above and beside me. I think, “If Jon can learn to be more positive, so can I.”

About a year later, I had my first interaction with Jon when I invited​​ him to be a guest on the podcast I hosted then; check it out!

Jon and I discussed this again recently. He shared that his mission is to help leaders develop a positive leadership style because it is his life's purpose.

The Value of Mentorship

I am unsure where I would be without that revolutionary day when I believed I could change my attitude and approach to relationships.

I feel the same about my relationship with another mentor, John Maxwell, about whom I have written extensively.

The value I have from these two relationships is very different yet very specifically similar; they empowered me to believe that I could be the person I have chosen to become and am becoming.

Here is the challenge with mentors: if we can't see them for the humans they are, we create a narrative that they are superhuman.

A superhuman mentor is not a mentor at all; it is a setup for failure.

Jon shared a story about clearing a clogged toilet for Ken Blanchard on the day he met him.

The simple humanistic element created a value in Ken that Jon may have never contemplated.

When we can humanize our mentors, we can see the potential in ourselves.

We can craft our rise from the ashes of the past, present, and future from their humanity.

Yet it's not the will of mentors that provide that vision of our potential but the service and authenticity they provide.

Positivity Matters

Every few days in conversation or interaction, the topic arises: how to hold people accountable.

The theory is that it was easier at one point or another as if the oldest generation had forgotten that they or their peers were altruistic and self-driven.

Yet historical writing paints the reality that every generation has struggled with entitlement and lack of drive and motivation.

The difference is that each generation has evolved beyond the other, and the tactics that once worked no longer do. Going back to the great Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, a demeanor of love always works.

Too many choose fear because it has a fast response time. Like the speedy hare, fear drives an initial response, launching an immediate response, but it doesn't last.

Fear fuels anger, and anger has half the octane of love.

Anger and negativity bind each other, but love and positivity support each other.

Choosing to love and support others does not mean we don’t hold others accountable. It means we are held accountable because we express love and the expectation to reciprocate love with love.

Responding to love with anger hurts people. Driving accountability with fear is merely choosing the short-term fix in a place where the infinite wins.

When we look to others to serve, we choose love as the best way to lead them.

Summit

Too often, leaders get stuck in a habit of leading by fear and being driven by anger because that is the world surrounding them.

I created the Impact Driven Leader community to provide a respite for leaders to spend time with others who were sick of following a broken playbook.

In about 11 weeks, I will host the 2nd annual Impact Driven Leader Summit.

This year, we have an unofficial theme and its culture.  Culture Matters, Winning Culture, Connecting Culture and Creating Culture.

Be a part of the event and learn from some of the best culture-focused leaders in the country.

As a kick-off to promoting this event, you can reserve your seat for less than the price of a plane ticket. This offer is limited to the first 20 seats, so get it locked in now.

I can't wait to see you in May!

Did you catch this podcast? If not, listen to it here.