Positive Leadership
Positive leadership is something that must be learned, and not something that we are automatically programmed to do. Some individuals demonstrate more inclination and aptitude for leadership, but this must be distinguished from leaders who merely desire power and control over others, versus leaders who want to serve everyone fairly and account for what is in the best interest for all involved.
Positive leadership has the potential to inspire and motivate, to challenge, to create a lasting impact on others, in the community, and beyond. Positive leadership promotes strong moral and ethical values aligning with integrity of thought and action. This does not mean that a good leader must be perfect. In fact, a good leader is able to demonstrate humility, acknowledge they are fallible, and take ownership and accountability for their indiscretions.
The main potential for people in power, is that they have the ability to transform and move the masses. Just in time for our upcoming political elections, we are thinking about each leader’s potential to do just that. To practice what they preach, and to not just demonstrate political showmanship. Who do we want to guide our country and the people in it? Who can we trust not to lead us into a worse predicament than we are in right now?
A good leader will earn trust through demonstrating high integrity and congruency in their actions and behavior. They really do “walk their talk,” and they show consistent efforts to hold accountability, right their wrongs, and demonstrate genuine compassion for the people in their care.
Teens and young adults are incredibly adept at recognizing positive leadership in authority figures. Developmentally, this makes sense, because they are in a life phase where they are gaining more independence and freedom of thought, and along with these positive traits comes a more challenging attitude toward authority. They may begin to observe and question the authority of their parents, teachers, coaches, and managers.
Some of my teen clients have struggled with coaches on their team sports. Often, coaches may be promoted to a leadership position because they are good athletes, and not necessarily because they are fair and just leaders. However, they have the potential to be good leaders if they practice humility, and provide positive encouragement, rather than praise or other forms of incentivizing “desirable” behavior. Good coaches are also shown to not play “favorites,” to not give priority to “star athletes” over everyone else, and to encourage camaraderie rather than competition among teammates.
As an adult, you may struggle with management at work. Perhaps you have a boss or manger who puts pressure on the team to accomplish results, while they are not holding themselves to the same standards that they expect from everyone else. When accountability is lacking, trust is also hard to establish. And without trust, an environment can quickly become toxic. Signs of a toxic work environment can include: favoritism, gossip, coercive or manipulative behavior, inconsistency, and arrogant or belittling attitudes toward colleagues.
In sum, positive leadership has the potential to empower, support, encourage and inspire. However, negative leadership qualities can quickly taint or damage relationships, rapport, and can lead to more serious mental health issues and fallout. Let us be promoters of positive leadership in our families, communities, and professional lives.
