A Synopsis

Negative news sells more than positive

news, people are affected more by

negative feedback than positive feedback,

and traumatic events have greater impact

on humans than positive events.

Positive Leadership• Positive leadership shows how to reach beyond ordinary success

to achieve extraordinary and spectacular results and what Cameron calls “Positively Deviant Performance” – Performance far above the norm.

• This book provides enormous real-world examples of organizations that have achieved exceptional levels of success.

• Kim Cameron shows how positive environment in the workplace can take organization or individuals from successful to exceptional (Good to Excellent, in our own terms!).

• He describes the four important strategies based on “Positivism” and they are

• Positive Climate,• Positive relationships, • Positive communication and • Positive meaning.

PositiveRelationships

PositiveMeaning

PositiveCommunication

PositiveClimate

Foster CompassionFoster Forgiveness

Foster Gratitude

Build Energy NetworksReinforce Strengths

Obtain best self feedbackUse supportive communication

Affect human well beingConnect to personal values

Build community

Positive Climate• Positive Climate refers to a condition

in which positive emotions predominate over negative emotions in the workplace.

• Organizational performance is considerably affected by a positive climate. Leaders significantly affect workplace climate as they personally induce, develop & display positive emotions.

• Inducing positive emotions like joyfulness, love and appreciation, enhances the ability of individuals in decision making, creativity, productivity &social integration.

Positive Relationships• Positive Relationships generate

enrichment, vitality and learning for both individuals and organizations.

• Leaders who enable positive deviance in organizations invest in the formation of positive relationships which engenders collective performance in teams and organizations.

• The most common assumption is that when people receive love, support and encouragement, when their psychological and emotional needs are met, they tend to feel secure and their performance is thus elevated.

Positive Communication

Research revealed that in high

performing organisations, the ratio of

positive to negative statements was

5.6 to 1.

Positive Communication• Positive Communication occurs in

organizations where positive and affirmative language replaces negative and critical language.

• Positive communication has been found to create significantly more “connectivity” – the exchange of information, interpersonal interactions & positive emotions, in the organizations.

• Supportive communication seeks to preserve or enhance a positive relationship while addressing a problematic, uncomfortable issue or giving negative feedback.

Positive Meaning

Primary Responsibility of the Leader is

to infuse purpose and meaning into

the work lives of organisation

members.

Positive Meaning• There are different orientations that

individuals possess regarding their work (job, career or calling). “Job” is to do work for the financial or material rewards. “Career” orientations are motivated by success as they work for prestige, power and recognition.

• “Calling” characterizes individuals who work for the sake of the work itself.

• Positively deviant performance is most closely associated with “Calling”. Emphasizing the benefits done for others, identifying long term impact created by work, achievement of goals promotes a sense of meaningfulness.

Implementing Positive Strategies

• Leaders can implement the four strategies of positive leadership - enabling positive climate, positive relationships, positive communication and positive meaning by engaging in a Personal Management Interview program (PMI).

• This PMI comprises of one time role negotiating session which helps to clarify goals, expectations, important cultural attributes and areas of responsibilities of an individual.

• These on going meetings between a leader and his reportees will help leaders to implement the four strategies of positive leadership.