This past week I had conversations with three different friends that have evolved into a thought-provoking theme for me regarding our ability to influence others. And as we all know, influencing others is a core leadership capacity. So let me think out-loud for a few minutes...
Each of these observations came as we were brainstorming strategies about leading their people. Here are the comments:
Mike said, “Wherever he goes [name omitted] creates his own adverse weather system.”
Sacha said, “With Bonnie, it’s always 75 degrees and Sunny, no matter what is going on around her.”
Dan said, “It’s like a law of attraction; a positive person attracts positive people - and therefore also attracts positive responses.”
3 people with similar observations. Three people who are unrelated and who were not speaking to each other. Yet each one of them expressed the same (generic) thought regarding people with whom they work.
Namely, there is a lot about the “climate” each person that is the result of their own attitude.
I think it’s true. Positive people generally do have a positive life. In contrast, dour people generally do have a life of constant challenge and regular tales of their latest “unfair” treatment.
Maybe it really is just that simple? Do we each “create our own weather system?” Are we attitude magnets…attracting more of what we already contain and express?
For those who see the glass as half-full
it is indeed always 70 degrees and sunny.
Certainly no of us can control our circumstances. On the other hand, maybe - just maybe - we can choose how we respond to our circumstances.
