TLP270: The Science of Positivity

As leaders focus on short-term results, tactical issues, quarterly numbers, and the crisis of the day, Kim Cameron shares an untapped and hidden resource that provides four-times better results. This is Kim Cameron’s second appearance on The Leadership Podcast, and he shares how leaders can be effective energizers for short-term yield, and long-term gain. Kim is a Professor at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Listen in as one of the most influential minds discusses the science of positivity.

Key Takeaways

[3:50] Kim shares what the heliotropic effect is and how humans prosper around light and positive energy.

[7:45] Good leaders help other people flourish. Energy plays an important role in the workforce because it means the right people can brighten the entire office, and the wrong people can suck the good energy dry.

[8:40] Empirical evidence says that positive leaders produce excellent bottom-line results.

[10:00] Positive energy and lighting up a room with your presence should not be confused with extroverted or introverted people. These are two separate things.

[11:15] A study showed that people who made positive phone calls to those they loved were eight times healthier than those who received a positive phone call.

[13:35] Kim shares an example of how Delta Airlines rewards its customers.

[17:00] Children as young as three months old can actively recognize good and virtuous acts.

[21:20] People are willing to give up salary, vacation days, and more so that they can work in a place that has meaning.

[23:45] You don’t need to wait for management to develop a meaningful job purpose for you. You can create your own job’s purpose. Kim shares an example of what this looks like.

[26:55] If you’d like to create and measure a baseline of positive energy in your organization, start by creating an energy network map.

[29:15] So many leaders do not realize the power of having a positive energizer on their team. It is an untapped resource that creates a 4X better impact.

[35:00] Positive impact doesn’t just apply to workplace situations. It can be applied as a parent, too.

[39:25] Listener challenge: What’s the best thing you did for somebody today?

The Leadership Podcast is sponsored by W.S. Darley & Company.

Founded in 1908, Darley remains a family owned and operated business, providing the highest quality equipment solutions to our country’s warfighters and firefighters.

Learn more at darley.com and darleydefense.com

Quotable Quotes

“Leaders who help other people flourish … tend to be generous.”
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“Positive energizing leaders are those who help other people flourish.”
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“On an individual level, people can, and should, craft their own jobs.”
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“Does anybody get rewarded or recognized, or hired, for being a positive energizer? It is 4X more important in predicting performance than what we normally measure!”
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