“We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction, that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

There is a lot of fear in the world right now and as a leader, it’s crucial to embrace the power of positive leadership. We must lead with positivity for our teams, our clients, our vendors, our colleagues, our community, and for ourselves.

That may sound like a great idea, but HOW? As humans we feel more secure when we have a sense of control and have “something to do.”

We are human thinking machines, and just like computers, our output depends on the input. If we focus on fear, doubt, and worry, we get much more of the same. We are all feeling a loss of control right now as the COVID-19 quarantine currently carries on into an unknown time frame, but the thoughts we choose shape the way we feel and lead, and the actions we take give us the sense of control we crave.

Here are some Action Steps to lead with positivity:

Cultivate and share your positive mindset – Limit your news intake and be intentional with your attention. Focus on gratitude, affirmations, inspirational books, articles, and quotes. When we reframe our thoughts and fill up our minds with something other than fear, we allow ourselves a sense of relief, a feeling of control. Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl put it this way, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Communicate and Connect – Reach out, listen, and inspire, now more than ever! As you continue to strengthen your positive attitude, be sure to communicate often and in many forms. Your teams and community need reassurance and inspiration. Remember, your actions and attitude communicate more than just your words. If you are embracing your own positive mindset, others around you will feel it too. Share your plans, your ideas, and ask for input from others as well. Ask for help in creating new solutions, new ways to be of service. Be creative! Look at different ways to stay in touch.

• Add a theme to your video conference meetings
• Build time into meeting agendas to share an inspirational story
• Mail handwritten notes to your team and key relationships
• Send meal delivery gift cards with a light-hearted note
• Challenge each other to be of service to non-profits and frontline workers
• Encourage your team to take action to shift their mindset to positivity too!

As leaders, we set the tone for our companies and those around us. Sometimes we need reassurance and inspiration, too. Reach out to me for a no-cost, no-obligation coaching session. This is my way of being of service and sharing my commitment to positivity. kellet@thegrowthcoach.com.

by Kim Ellet, CPC, The Growth Coach of Metro Atlanta

Kim Ellet is a certified professional coach and owner of The Growth Coach of Metro Atlanta. She finds joy in helping successful leaders committed to continuous improvement, be more of who they are, dream bigger dreams, and accomplish more than they realized was possible.
www.TheGrowthCoach/Atlanta.com