How to Create a Culture of Positivity in Leadership

I managed teams for 10 years before I learned this important truth: Empathy isn't a "soft skill." It's your most powerful leadership tool. I once had a top performer who was missing deadlines. Instead of asking "Why isn't this done?" I asked "How can I support you?" Turns out, she was dealing with family health issues but was afraid to speak up. That one conversation changed everything. 8 ways I learned to show empathy at work: — Listen without jumping to fix things — Be flexible when life throws curveballs — Make time for non-work conversations — Give praise in public, feedback in private — Create space where no question feels stupid — Support mental health days, not just sick days — Ask how you can help, not why things aren't done — Treat your team like people first, employees second When you lead with empathy, productivity and loyalty naturally follow. You don't have to choose between being human and being successful. The most effective leaders are both. Because at the end of the day, people don't leave bad jobs. They leave environments where they don't feel understood or appreciated. Want to transform your team? Start with empathy. It's the investment that pays the highest returns. ♻️ Agree? Repost to spread the message. Thanks! 📌 Follow Justin Wright for more on emotional intelligence. Want my 99 best cheat sheets? Get them free: BrillianceBrief.com

Many people believe that leadership is solely about making decisions... But that's not the case. It's about supporting and serving others. I’ve had the privilege of learning from some pretty great leaders over the past decade, and if they’re reading this - they know who they are 😊. Genuine service involves more than just the desire to help. It demands the cultivation of soft skills that truly make an impact. ✅ For you. ✅ For your team. ✅ For the organization. If you're ready to change the way you lead... Here are 10 essential soft skills to focus on: 1. Listening ↳ Stop formulating your response while others are speaking. ↳ Begin to understand what your team truly needs. 2. Empathy ↳ Prioritize comprehending your team's experiences over seeking to be understood. ↳ View challenges through their perspective first. 3. Adaptability ↳ Modify your approach to align with where your team currently is. ↳ Let your leadership style adjust to their strengths. 4. Dedication ↳ Be consistently present for your team. ↳ Your dependability forms their support system. 5. Ethics ↳ Make choices that safeguard your team's trust. ↳ Your integrity serves as their safety net. 6. Respect ↳ Treat everyone with equal dignity. ↳ Your way of honoring individuals shapes the team's culture. 7. Support ↳ Remove obstacles so others can thrive. ↳ Your role is to simplify their tasks. 8. Humility ↳ Acknowledge mistakes that affect your team. ↳ Demonstrate the vulnerability you wish to inspire. 9. Inclusion ↳ Ensure every voice is heard and valued. ↳ Diverse perspectives enhance team decision-making. 10. Patience ↳ Allow your team time to develop and learn. ↳ Encourage progress rather than striving for perfection. The most rewarding aspect of serving others? You don’t need a formal title to begin. Leadership can emerge from any position when you focus on how you present yourself.

The way you communicate impacts everything from team morale to customer loyalty. Here's how to use positive language to get the best results and what I learned by messing up a few times 👇 Boost Collaboration and Morale: ◾️ Instead of "You need to fix this," try "How can I help you improve it?" - Replace negativity with appreciation. ◾️ Replace "you need to..." with "What do you think?" - Empower your team. Increase Engagement and Productivity: ◾️ Instead of "that won't work," try "Let's brainstorm some solutions together." - Focus on solutions. ◾️ Replace "you need to get this done" with "How can I help?" or "You have my full attention." - Show your support. These are ‘Positive Phrases’ I wish my leaders used more often, but in reality, the higher up you go, the less positive feedback you get. No news is good news essentially! But if you can, use these more often: 👉 "Thank you" & "This was great!" 👉 "What do you think?" & "I value your feedback" 👉 "What could I have done better?" 👉 "You have my full attention" & "What can I do to help you?" Some people can do this naturally as natural empaths, I on the other hand had to learn this because the leadership regime I grew up in was very much COMMAND & CONTROL. It was top down, results focused only, and belittling was par for the course to rise through the ranks. So my leadership, mentorship, and influence was different than the great leaders of today who lead ‘side by side’ versus top down. So the pivot in language took time, but as I got better, I saw better results. By incorporating these phrases into your daily interactions, you can create a more engaged, productive, and positive work environment. #leadership #communication #positivity P.S. What are some other positive phrases you find effective? Share your thoughts in the comments!*