How Full is Your Bucket? Strategies for Leaders Denise Cameron Manager, Human Resources

What is a Leader? True leadership has nothing to do with one’s level in the organization Leadership is like an iceberg 2 primary components What you see above the water What you can’t see below the water Leadership is more about what others don’t see then what they see A leader has the responsibility to be the example There are many individuals in the world who don’t hold leadership positions, yet they provide leadership all the time, in the same token there are individuals who are in positions of leadership and they are not exerting much leadership at all. 20 % of the iceberg is visible the other 80% is not.

Theory of the Dipper and the Bucket Everyone has an invisible bucket When Full We feel Great When Empty We feel Awful Everyone has an invisible dipper When we fill someone’s bucket We Fill our own When we dip from people’s bucket We diminish our own

Theory of the Dipper and the Bucket A full bucket gives us a positive outlook & renewed energy Every drop makes us stronger & more optimistic Empty buckets poisons our outlook, saps our energy & undermines our will

Negativity Kills The Ultimate Weapon: Deny emotional Support that comes from interpersonal relationships How: Informing Self-criticism Breaking loyalty to leadership and country Withholding all positive emotional support Example from the Korean prisoner of war camp: By incouraging informing – it breaks relationships and turn people against each other By forcing self-criticism it causes the lose of respect and goodwill Loyalty was broke by slowly and relentlessly undermining allegiance to superior By withholding all positive emotional support (only allowing negative letters, showing bills overdue, etc) causes one to lose belief in self and loved ones and develop a sense of hopelessness. These tactics created an emotional and psychological isolation. It takes the fight out of the person.

The Study of Positively If negativity can kill, can positivity have an even stronger impact on the person and their psyche? While most of our negative experiences will not kill us they will slowly but surely erode our well-being & productivity.

The Study of Positively in Organizations Bucket filling in organizations have Two critical components: Recognition Praise

The Study of Positively in Organizations The majority of us don’t give or receive the amount of praise that we should. The result is: Less Productivity Disengagement in our jobs Counter productive behavior: Stirring up trouble Whining Complaining Paranoia

The Study of Positively in Organizations In short, negative work environments: Kill productivity Brings employee energy down Scares customers away

The Study of Positively in Organizations Remember, every moment matters. Speak to your employees Recognize good Performance Focus on the positive By doing these things you………. Create Positive Emotions

The Study of Positively in Organizations Positive emotions: Protects from and undo negative ones Fuel resilience and can transform people Broaden our thinking, encouraging us to discover new lines of thought or action Break down racial barriers Build durable physical, intellectual, social and psychological resources that can functions “reserves” during trying times Produce optimal function in organizations and individuals Improve the overall performance of a group (when the leaders express more positive emotions)

The Five Strategies For increasing Positive Emotions Strategy 1 Prevent Bucket Dipping With each interaction ask yourself: Did I just add to or take away from the person’s bucket?

People will not give you their hand Until they see Your heart. John Maxwell

The Five Strategies For increasing Positive Emotions Strategy 2 Shine a Light on What is Right Focus on the positive in a person instead of the negative. The Result: You fill a bucket and you set something into motion Complete Positive impact Test.

The Five Strategies For increasing Positive Emotions Strategy 2 Complete Positive Impact Test Questions. (Hand out)

You must gain the trust of your people if you don't have their trust, You'll never be a great leader. Trust Increase your leadership credibility by consistently living the value and walking the talk

The Five Strategies For increasing Positive Emotions Strategy 3 Make Best Friends People with a best friend at work have: Better safety records Receive higher customer satisfaction scores Increased workplace productivity

The Five Strategies For increasing Positive Emotions Strategy 4 Give Unexpectedly In your own interaction look for opportunities to give small gifts to others out of the blue: A funny trinket A hug (not everyone is a hugger) Offer to grab a cup of coffee Sharing books, articles, or stories that would positively influence someone’s day Even a smile can be an unexpected gift Gift with book Clifton Strengths Finder at back. Droplets for bucket filling

The Five Strategies For increasing Positive Emotions Strategy 5 Reverse the Golden Rule Instead of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” Consider: “Do unto others as they would have you do unto them” Pass out the Bucket filling interview.

The Five Strategies For increasing Positive Emotions Strategy 5 Conduct the bucket filling interview with each person at your table

Watching Your Words The most important conversations you hold in life are the ones you hold with yourself. Practice talking to yourself using positive language Learn to see the value of the contribution you make at work Notice how your “self-talk” influences your beliefs, choices, and actions Make sure you do not talk yourself out of what might be possible Tell yourself that an effective work and life balance is a definite possibility and develop an “I can” mindset Adopt a new vocabulary that can help you overcome doubt, anxiety, cynicism and tiredness

Making Choices People constantly make choices that influence their lives It is easy to feel that you are not in control of your actions or your decision, but the reality is that you are Always consider the consequences of your choices for yourself and others – remember that your actions do not just affect you, they affect those around you. Think about the choices you make at work that effect your life. Points to Remember: Changing your “self talk” can change your life The results you achieve depend on the choices and decisions that you make Your are responsible for the choices that you make, and You can take control of your work and life

What choice will you make Daily Will you fill Buckets? Or Will you dip from Buckets? Your decision will profoundly influence Relationships Productivity Health Happiness