Glass Half-Full Leadership

Too many folks thumb their noses at the notion of positivity. But guess what? You can smell their fear-based negativity a mile away. Sure, these naysaying leaders may get a few wins and might whip their teams into submission, but their tyranny isn’t sustainable. It kills a culture, It kills respect, and it might just kill them.

Photo: Courtesy of Wix Media

Science proves time and again the power of positivity when it comes to living a long, healthy life and building a collaborative, and intensely dedicated team. Two major ingredients for leading a successful company. So, come along with me for a moment and consider glass half-full leadership. You don’t need to plaster a smile on your face all day long nor do you need to fill your office suite with cupcakes and puppies to get your team excited about your leadership. But you do need to give them hope.

In the words of the immortal Napoleon Hill, "Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit."

In other words, educate and demonstrate how setbacks, mistakes, and struggles are stepping stones to greatness. Instead of wallowing in what isn’t working, focus on what you learned and how you can make things better the next time around.

Delight in the hard-won efforts and critical lessons that shape you and your team into warriors eager to rise to the next challenge with renewed enthusiasm. Find hope when there’s loss. Instill positivity when there’s fear. Lead with enthusiasm and encourage your team to always look on the bright side of things, even when times are tough.

Picture this:

• Brainstorming with your team and finding creative solutions to overcome challenges.

• Ending each meeting on an authentic high, your team walking from the room eager to improve and gain better results.

• Entering and leaving a work environment brimming with positivity.

• Attracting and retaining top talent due to a positive culture open to diversity and creativity.

• Building trust and influence by garnering a reputation as the leader everyone wants to work for.

• Sounds inviting? It’s there for the taking. Positivity isn’t for the timid, rather it’s for the bold. It's for the leaders who are willing to make it, no matter what occurs, and believe in the brightest possibilities of tomorrow.

A glass half-full habit can be honed, but only if you shape and model the approach.

Renwick Brutus' career has spanned roles as research economist, investment advisor, entrepreneur and consultant. He holds an MBA from Fordham University and has been recognized for his outstanding achievement in sales and business leadership. Today, Renwick applies his unique blend of business strategy and interpersonal skills to help individuals prosper and companies grow. He is actively engaged as an entrepreneur, advisor and executive coach to business leaders. Contact him by email and LinkedIn .