Partly Cloudy or Partly Sunny – How to Energize Others
You see yourself as sunny. Others think you’re cloudy.
The way you occur to others and the way you perceive yourself are two different things.
When you look at the sky:
According to the National Weather Service, partly sunny skies are between 37% and 63% sunny. But partly cloudy skies are also between 37% and 63% cloudy.
Partly cloudy and partly sunny mean the same thing.
When you look at the sky, do you see clouds or blue?
If you spend 50% of your time focused on problems, you might think you’re a beam of light, but you’re cloudy.
Magnification:
You think you’re cheerful. They think you’re cloudy. People magnify clouds and minimize sun.
A short spring shower from you is a downpour to your team.
The mostly sunny leader:
It’s not about smiling, although smiling helps.
A leader worth following energizes people even when it’s raining.
How to be a mostly sunny leader:
- Let people know they matter. You don’t have to be bubbly. Just make people feel important.*
- Believe improvement and progress are possible with energy and teamwork.
- Find something good to say.
- See the clouds and choose the sun. Don’t ignore issues, problems, and challenges. But for goodness sake, see the good.
- Take action. Talk without action is a power outage. Focus on something you CAN do.
If you talk about problems 80% of the time and solutions 20% of the time, you’re a tsunami of energy sucking negativity.
Project:
Rate your interactions for a week with a + or -.
- Did you make someone feel important? Record a plus.
- Did you complain most of the time? Record a minus.
- Were you solution focused? Record a plus.
- Did you talk but not take action? Record a minus.
- Did you see a problem as an opportunity? Record a plus.
Review and adjust appropriately.
How might leaders better energize people and teams?
Bonus material:
How to Energize Colleagues* (HBR)
3 Qualities of Optimistic Leaders (Success)
5 Ways to Become the Optimistic Leader Your Team Wants (Insperity)
Dan,
Having acquired the nickname ” Sunshine” as a “young Lineman apprentice” by a Foreman years ago in South Jersey, because I was a smiley young man seemed to bring brightness during those days to somebody.
So we need to present ourselves to be judged, some will be positive and then we have those who have negativity so to each their own. So if we bring enthusiasm, outward disposition, positive vibes, looking people in the eyes, smiling will enhance those dreary moments should we carry the stature that day.
The other side of the coin looking down at the ground, non inspirational facial messages, doom and gloom disposition casts a shadow no mater where we are.
Interesting discussion. I’ve always been a (as noted by Tim above) Sunshine guy or my words and efforts lean positive. I’ve made attempts over the years to pass this positive nature on to others and am currently working with a young guy at work to do so. I give him opportunities and build him up, direct him and them back up success with praise or non success with suggested actions for the future. He is receptive to the help and I feel good about that. But (there’s always a but) there are others here now that just do not want to accept similar guidance and they are always on the negative attitude side. For those I make attempts (1,2,3 or 4) and if they do not reciprocate I move on as it is just not in their nature. And that “just not in their nature” is what bugs me more than anything else. But then again I am an older worker (a boomer) who was brought up in a different time and place. In spite of this all I continue to be “sunshine” just like Tim above.
Every day I work on adjusting my attitude. Sometimes we can all get swept up with the day to day routine of things and lose sight of the images of ourselves that we are showing to others. Right now where I’m at it is partly cloudy; dark grey clouds closing in around protruding circle of sunshine. It’s been like that all morning, and yet not a job of rain. There has been nothing but sunshine at my plant despite any negative feelings we’ve all had to the contrary. It is always a good idea to plan for the worst, but we must remember to expect the best. Of course we’ll finish this job today, look the storm is going around us, and if the storm does come we have contingencies in place to minimize loss. Your checklist at the end is great, and I will test it out this week. Thanks for that.