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How to be a Positive Leader

How to be a Positive Leader

How to be a Positive Leader

“Praise costs nothing, yet it can turn a good team into a great one.” - Chris Farmer, Lead Trainer

Definition: Positive leaders are those that use only positive motivators to inspire teams.

If you want to be perceived as a positive leader, then use these five methods to motivate the team.

  1. Financial bonuses.
  2. Encouragement, praise and appreciation.
  3. Achievement.
  4. Team acceptance.
  5. Personal pride.

1. Financial Bonuses as a Positive Motivator.

Most people are motivated by money because it can be translated into many other things; Necessities, luxuries, entertainment, free time, travel, status, etc.

Leaders are often in a position to affect the earning power of others.

So, they can motivate people by making deals with subordinate colleagues, which amount to saying, "If you do this, then you will receive this extra money".

2. Encouragement Praise, and Appreciation.

Words can be used to positively motivate others. This is the best and easiest way to be a positive leader.

Kind words of encouragement, praise and appreciation are the best way to inspire positive motivation in the minds of others.

  1. Encourage people by telling them they have great potential.
  2. Praise people whenever they do things well.
  3. Appreciate people for the effort they put into their work.

3. Achievement.

People are positively motivated by their achievements. So, leaders should delegate work to people that causes them to stretch and develop their professional abilities.

When people find themselves performing at a higher level, they are inspired by their progress. They say to themselves, "If I can do this, I can do anything!".

Positive leaders create opportunities for people to achieve success.

4. Acceptance.

Humans are social animals, so being "accepted into the team" is a motivator. Most people like being part of a team, and they are inspired by it.

Leaders can positively motivate people by consciously developing a welcoming and inclusive team spirit.

5. Pride.

Good mental health has an element of "personal pride". To the degree to which people consider themselves to be "Good, right and fair", is the degree to which they feel good about themselves.

So positive leaders always treat colleagues in ways that are "Good, right and fair".

Positive leaders inspire us to take pride in ourselves, in our work, and in our organisation.

Be a More Positive Leader

Join us on our two-day Leadership and Management Course to learn more about positive motivation techniques for leader/managers.

Definition: Positive leader

Business context – A positive leader is a leadership style that: 1) uses only positive motivators, never threats; 2) links money, praise, growth and belonging to clear goals; 3) treats every team member fairly and with respect; 4) builds pride and unity inside the team. Plain English: In business, a positive leader relies only on rewards that lift people up. They give fair pay, warm words, growth tasks and team spirit to reach goals. They refuse fear, act fair to all and grow pride, so staff feel eager to excel.

Show CG4D Definition
Context: Business
Genus: leadership style
Differentia:
  • Uses only positive motivators, never threats or punishment
  • Connects pay, praise, growth tasks and belonging to clear goals
  • Treats every team member fairly and with respect
  • Builds pride and strong unity within the team

Article Summary

A leader who rewards effort with fair pay, praise, achievement, belonging and pride drives higher skill, energy and loyalty; positive leadership turns work into a place where people want to excel.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Did You Know: Key Statistics

Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace study finds that staff who received praise in the past week are five times more likely to feel engaged at work. Deloitte’s 2024 Global Human Capital Trends report shows that teams with a strong sense of belonging deliver 2.6 times higher work performance than those without.

About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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