21 Mar Change your Perspective and Change your Life
Have you ever thought about how your way of thinking affects your work? This story will show you how changing your mind can make a big difference.
Here’s a story about someone I worked with. He was a top leader who often got angry and yelled, especially at his team. He didn’t like certain ideas and would quickly judge and shout.
But something changed. In a recent meeting, he said he doesn’t get angry like that anymore. He’s become more patient and calm.
I asked how he did it. His answer was simple but powerful. He started to see things differently. He asked himself, “What if I treat this person as someone important from outside the organisation?” He used to be very respectful and patient with important external visitors or guests. Now, he treated his team the same way.
He knew that our emotions stem from our thoughts and inner dialogues. So, he stopped thinking things like “Why are they so careless?” These thoughts made him angry.
Recognizing that emotional outbursts, whether internal or external, could harm relationships and productivity, he decided to view the person as if they were external to the organization. This simple change allowed him to maintain a balanced emotional state, fostering better relationships and overall productivity.
By changing his thoughts, he changed how he felt and acted. This made everyone get along better and work more efficiently. It shows how a small change in thinking can make a big difference at work.
In the way our thoughts and emotions connect, lies a profound truth: altering our thinking or perspectives has the potential to reshape our emotional responses and through that our lives.
For senior corporate leaders, shifting thoughts and improving communication can be crucial for effective leadership.
Here are strategies with examples to guide this process:
Suspend Assumptions:
Challenge assumptions about others by acknowledging that you may not have the full picture. Be open to the idea that your interpretation of a situation may be influenced by your own biases and experiences. Example: In a board meeting, if a team member presents an unconventional idea, resist the urge to dismiss it based on past experiences. Instead, consider that this new approach might have merits you haven’t yet understood.
Seek Understanding:
Instead of jumping to conclusions, actively seek to understand the motivations, intentions, and feelings of the other person. Ask open-ended questions to encourage communication and gain insights into their perspective. Example: If a typically punctual employee is suddenly late for meetings, don’t assume they’ve become disinterested. Ask open-ended questions like, “I’ve noticed you’ve been running late recently, is everything okay?” This approach can reveal underlying issues such as personal challenges or workload concerns.
Challenge Negative Thoughts:
Actively challenge negative or judgmental thoughts as they arise. Question the validity of your judgments and consider alternative interpretations. Replace judgmental thoughts with more neutral or positive interpretations. Example: When you find yourself thinking, “This department always underperforms,” stop and assess the fairness of this judgment. Consider recent successes or improvements in that department and try to reframe your thoughts to, “The department has faced challenges but is showing signs of progress.”
Use Positive Affirmations:
Introduce positive affirmations that promote understanding and empathy. Remind yourself of the importance of open-mindedness and compassion. Repeat affirmations regularly to reinforce positive thought patterns. Example: Before entering a negotiation, remind yourself, “I am open to understanding different viewpoints and finding mutually beneficial solutions.” This mindset can foster a more collaborative and less confrontational environment.
Choose Your Battles:
Not every situation requires a judgment. Choose your battles wisely and recognize when it’s more productive to seek understanding rather than passing judgment. Example: If a team member insists on a minor change in a report, evaluate the impact of opposing versus accepting their suggestion. It might be more productive to agree to the change, maintaining a positive work environment, rather than insisting on your original approach for something of relatively low importance.
Invest in Self Growth :
In this realm of personal development and emotional well-being, the Positive Intelligence Boot Camp serves as a guiding light, unravelling the profound impact of judgment on our lives. Its build upon Shirzad Chamine’s influential work, “Positive Intelligence,”.
Building upon the principles laid out by Shirzad, the Positive Intelligence Boot Camp emerges as a dynamic and immersive experience, tailored to bring those teachings to life. Picture it as a hands-on workshop, a journey where participants actively engage with the concepts from “Positive Intelligence” and apply them in real-life scenarios.
It’s a measure of your ability to stay positive and resilient when faced with life’s challenges. The more positive intelligence quotient you have, the better equipped you are to handle stress, make sound decisions, and build fulfilling relationships. It helps to tame your mindset towards positivity.
Guided by a top executive coach in India, the boot camp provides the platform of comprehensive approach to understanding and taming those inner voices that hold you back. The boot camp becomes a playground where you not only recognize these voices but also practice choosing the positive mindset consciously.
Recommended Assessment:
Take a moment to explore and discover more about yourself. Access your Positive Intelligence Quotient here
In conclusion, the essence of this blog, “Change your Perspective and Change your Life,” underscores a pivotal truth for senior corporate leaders: the transformative power of thought. It’s not just about managing teams or strategies; it’s about managing your own mind. By adopting a new lens to view challenges and interactions, you can dramatically alter your emotional responses, relationships, and ultimately, your professional success.
By engaging with these principles and actively working to reframe your mindset, you can enhance your leadership, foster better teamwork, and create a more positive, productive workplace. So, take the step, explore your Positive Intelligence Quotient, and embark on a transformative journey. Change your perspective, and watch as it remarkably changes your life and the lives of those around you.
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