12 Things Really Positive People Don't Do

In times of disruption, crisis, uncertainty, and ambiguity remaining positive is a key factor for effective leadership.

Over the past 27 years I've studied successful leaders and have been able to decode what the successful one's actually do.

“If you want light to come into your life, you need to stand where it is shining.” – Guy Finley

In this article I want to share 12 things that positive people don't do!

1. They don't have a closed mind

Someone once said, "A closed mind is about as good as your parachute opening on the second bounce!"

Really positive people have the ability to keep an open mind. They have a growth and an impact mindset.

A fixed mindset is where people tend to seek perfection and avoid failure. They focus on reproducing what they know. They believe their abilities are fixed traits and often achieve less than their full potential.

A growth mindset is where people see themselves as learners on a journey seeking personal growth and development. The focus on improving how they do what they do.

An impact mindset is where people focus on making a positive difference to the world. They know who they are, they focus purposefully on why they do what they do, they know what they should be doing, and how to do it.

Really positive people align the who, why, what and how, whilst striving to have an open mind.

2. They don't look for the negative

Remember that lovely saying, "Every cloud has a silver lining!"

Really positive people have the ability to look for the good in every situation. When things go wrong they don't wallow in self pity. They seek understanding, learn and go again. They look for opportunity in crisis. The innovate and look for the positives.

3. They don't try to be in too many places at once

We now know, as neuroscientists tell us, that multitasking is a myth.

Really positive people are in the moment, they are in the here and now. They have the ability to be present.

They understand that being in the moment is key to their success. You can learn from the past, and you can predict the future, the only thing we are in control of is the now.

Positive people focus on the controllables.

4. They don't project over others

There are two things that can occur in our interactions with others—reflection and projection. Reflection is when experiences reflect back to us from others that show us aspects of ourselves, and projection is where we externalise aspects of ourselves onto others that aren't actually them.

It's easy to see in others what is projecting from you! Really positive people are self aware and can use empathy to understand and value difference. They are emotionally intelligent and don't get caught out by the projection and reflection trap.

5. They don't behave in an un-appreciative way

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” – Henry Ward Beecher

Positive people are grateful for what they have. They practice being grateful, they journal, they remember the bad and use it to compare, they link other positive habits like always looking for the good, they watch their language, and they use visual reminders to remain humble and grateful for what they have.

6. They don't focus on weaknesses

Positive people build on their strengths. They actively seek them out and develop them. They use tools or other people to compensate for their weaknesses. They don't try and be good at everything, they 'play to position.'

“Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not by eliminating our weaknesses.” ― Marilyn Von Savant

7. They don't get stuck on the hamster wheel

Special Forces operators have a slogan when it comes to urban combat: “Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.” You can be efficient, but are you effective?

Positive people recognise when they are too busy and on the hamster wheel. They speed up by slowing down. They reflect, learn and improve.

8. They don't carry around baggage from the past

Imagine the effort of carrying around a 50kg rucksack all the time! Emotional baggage feels the same!

“Just because you have baggage doesn't mean you have to lug it around.” ― Richie Norton

Positive people have the ability to let go, take the learning and move on.

9. They don't make knee jerk reactions

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." - Viktor E. Frankl

Positive people are self aware and understand the point of choice. They choose to respond in a positive way, regardless of the stimulus. They are mentally tough and resilient.

10. They don't take people for granted

Positive people go out of their way to catch people doing something right and giving them a sincere compliment.

“Compliment People. Magnify their strengths, not their weaknesses.” – Joyce Meyer

When you compliment people it's a win win situation, they feel good and you feel good.

Why wouldn't you want to do that?

11. They don't get stuck worrying

“If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep.” – Dale Carnegie

Positive people understand that taking action is key to removing the worry factor.

12. They don't get complacent

Imaging if you could only earn your wage through commission on the sale to a customer. And you only had one customer. You would treat them really well, wouldn't you!

Well, when you treat every customer as the only one, they never will be.

Positive people do that!

Pulling it all together

If you want to explore these habits more then you can watch the videos at Applied Positive Thinking and listen to them at Leadership Laid Bare Podcast

About the author

Graham is on a mission to change the way organisations are being led. His sole purpose is to awaken possibility in leaders to deliver extraordinary results. Called a Leadership Wizard by his clients, he is the founder of the award winning Successfactory, author of Leadership Laid Bare! and The New Leadership Manifesto. He is trusted by many of the best leaders and organisations around the world to develop their leaders.

To work with Graham you can contact him at [email protected]

If you are intrigued and want to learn more then register interest in the Leadership Athlete Masterclass here and I'll give you a free electronic copy of The New Leadership Manifesto (￡12.99 on Amazon)

For more information click here >> www.thesuccessfactory.co.uk 

Leadership Laid Bare! and The New Leadership Manifesto are available from amazon.co.uk