This is not about false optimism, mass gestures of "team building" or always being likable. A leaders job is to bring energy and give hope. The last two years have tested so many leadership traits, arguably the resilience to instill energy in others the most.
The research is clear. Leaders, both in positions of authority and not, have the power to give energy or to take it. And employees will vote with their feet for the type of leader they want to be aligned with.
When the leader is a positive energizer, the organization has greater:
- Innovation (the number-one attribute that CEOs look for across industries and countries)
- Teamwork
- Financial performance, including productivity and quality
- Workplace cohesion
And when a leader is a positive energizer, employees have greater:
- Job satisfaction
- Well-being
- Engagement
- Performance
- Relationships with family
So how do you and your leaders stack up in terms of positive relational energy?