The Best Leaders Have a Contagious Positive Energy

The pandemic has taken a significant toll on the well-being and energy of so many. Positively energizing leaders are more crucial than ever. Positive relational energy —the energy exchanged between people that helps uplift, enthuse, and renew them — however, is not the superficial demonstration of false positivity, like trying to think happy thoughts or turning a blind eye to the very real stresses and pressures overloaded employees are experiencing. Rather, it is the active demonstration of values. Numerous studies show that positive energizers produce substantially higher levels of engagement, lower turnover, and enhanced feelings of well-being among employees. In organizations, superior shareholder returns occur, and in some studies, outcomes exceeded industry averages in profitability and productivity by a factor of four or more. Here’s what leaders need to know about positive relational energy, which the authors have found to be the most underutilized yet powerful predictor of leadership and organizational success.