How to have a positive impact as a leader

Welcome back to the LIFT by Body Talk newsletter, where you can learn how to achieve your goals by LIFTing others. Here you will gain insights and top tips on leadership, communication, and storytelling. 

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Recently on the LIFT podcast, I met with Craig Dowden, PHD, an executive coach with the Forbes Coaches Council and an award-winning keynote speaker on the science of leadership. He is the bestselling author of Do Good to Lead Well. His next book, A Time to Lead: Mastering Your Self... So You Can Master Your World was released on September 13 and was written with Alan Mulally, the former CEO of Ford Motor Company and Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Craig and I discussed how he bridges the gap between what science knows and what leaders do, while always trying to maintain positive leadership. 

Where did the idea of positive leadership begin?

Craig found himself speaking to executives and aspiring leaders who faced a common issue: do I “do good” and risk letting my results suffer, or do I drive results and risk “trampling on my people”?

We have good news: you don’t have to choose. 

“A positive work environment drives positive performance.”

Craig defines positive leadership as fostering a contribution above and beyond yourself. Being a good leader and making sure your employees are happy and healthy are not mutually exclusive. 

This comes down to prioritising a healthy work environment. We’ve had conversations about burnout, which the World Health Organisation defines as uncontrolled and unmanaged workplace stress. People are leaving organisations, and it’s gaining international attention. 

Craig emphasises how, since the pandemic, we really have to maintain our own self care while also being plugged into the needs of everyone in the organisation in order to prevent burnout and maintain that positive environment. 

“Great leadership starts with great self leadership.”

How can we show up for the people we care about the most if we aren’t showing up for ourselves? It’s just like the aeroplane analogy—you have to put on your own oxygen mask before you can help anyone else. 

Sometimes when we’re dealing with our own challenges, that can impact how we’re communicating with others. And the less that we’re interacting face to face, the more that we have to work to empathise with the person on the other end of the text or email. 

Craig recommends trying to balance “mastering your self so you can master your world” (the subtitle to his book, A Time to Lead) by taking an objective approach. Can you look at yourself, without judgement, and ask if you’re putting your best self forward? He says, “Be curious about it.” What triggers your best reactions? Your worst? 

When you have this insight, you can better manage yourself moving forward, while also having better understanding and empathy when others are responding to different triggers the way that they are. 

Craig’s tips for being a good leader when you’re experiencing burnout:

Be self-compassionate. - We can’t always be at our best. The key is, do we own that behaviour?  How do we move forward with accountability and empathy?

You can’t manage a secret. - This is a piece of advice that Craig attributes to his co-writer, Alan Mulally. When you’re dealing with challenges, it’s best to share them with the team. That way, everyone can work together on finding a solution. 

Never joke at someone else’s expense. - You have no idea how that can impact people. They may not feel comfortable sharing their ideas in the future, and they may even leave your organisation. This can also send a message to the rest of your team that they are not respected. 

“Am I having the impact that I say I want to have as a great leader of this team or this organisation?” - It all comes down to this question. How can your mindset support both you and your organisation? Stay tuned for my next newsletter for more! 

If you’d like to learn more about Craig Dowden and his work, check out www.craigdowden.com or connect with him on LinkedIn. 

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