Research shows that a positive mindset helps people live longer and better. It also helps leaders turn crises into opportunities by focusing on the future, not the past, identifying and seize new and bigger opportunities, creating belief and motivation within their teams, attracting support for their initiatives, and improving their performance.
Developing a positive mindset starts with controlling self-talk. Leaders have choices about how they think and feel. They should challenge their thoughts, checking every negative thought. Great leaders would do well to identify role models and think and act as they do.
Leaders can condition their mindsets to be positive by:
* Focusing on the future without dwelling too much on the past.
* Counting blessings, finding silver linings in every cloud.
* Helping others and encouraging reciprocity.
* Driving to action, focusing on what can be controlled without worrying about what cannot.
* Breaking daunting tasks into manageable steps while celebrating and rewarding progress.
* Relaxing and smiling, finding the methods that work for the specific case at hand.