Positive Leadership

In my network I have the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, professionals, successful and valuable persons. Each of them teaches me something, enriching my personal and professional growth. In particular, I have always been struck by the humbleness of important people and how modestly they behave.

I agree with the psychotherapist Milton Erickson: “It is difficult to define or measure good leadership, yet it is not difficult to recognise it when we see it. True leaders know how to motivate. The best evidence of how good leaders operate is in the way they treat people and events around them. Of course, leadership is not only a task of the leader but is also the result of a complex process of interaction among the leader, the co-workers and the context in which they operate, sometimes referred to as the historical moment”.

In case of complex contexts and structural changes, in addition to the steadiness and rationality required to make effective decisions, managers are also required to have the ability to communicate a sense of calmness and well-being to employees. This is what is known as positive leadership.

Speaking of leadership, it is crucial to understand that in today’s corporate landscape, a paradigm shift is required, a shift from mere command communication to a positive attitude, capable of stimulating the curiosity and growth of employees.

It is not simply a matter of being positive, but it requires a change in corporate culture: instead of focusing on shortcomings it is more effective to focus on the company’s unique values; rather than looking at unachievable goals, better use the S.M.A.R.T model and define concrete and achievable ones; instead of just talking about problems, why not discuss positive examples and success stories? This is not optimism for its own sake, but rather an emphasis on positive opportunities and the sharing of innovative ideas and proposals. Rather than thinking about what should be done and how to do it, the positive leader also tries to share the purpose of a decision inspiring the team with his or her example.

In order to show the best practices of positive leadership, the manager guides and optimises the work of his/her team in a person-oriented way, recognises the performance of his or her employees, inspires them to imagine more and to do their best.

Confucius stated that those who wield power must lead by example.