Have you ever questioned the level of impact your leadership has on your team? Have you felt less influential than you expected? Mindset is a powerful tool, and understanding the relationship between your mindset and your team is crucial for impactful leadership. It’s important for leaders to cultivate positive thinking.

All too often, a frustrated leader results in an overwhelmed team. Regardless of the issue, your response will affect your team’s perception and handling of the problem. Negativity sprouts negativity, so the power of a positive mind is monumental. 

Stay tuned to learn more about the importance of practicing gratitude and maintaining a positive mindset as a leader.

Benefits of Gratitude and a Positive Mindset

A leader with a positive mindset that actively practices gratitude creates an optimistic team. Your energy and demeanor have a profound effect on your surroundings. 

Being positive and practicing gratitude are key personality traits. They influence your outlook on life, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships. But there’s more! Here are four benefits of staying positive and being grateful:

1. Nurture Your Mind

Science confirms that our self-perception is highly influenced by our self affirmations. Our thoughts become our reality, which can be wonderful or detrimental to our well-being.

The mind is a powerful tool that directs not only our behavior but also our experiences in life. Our ideology plays a significant role in the outcome of our day.

Those who think negatively will notice more negativity around them, which can feel like a downward spiral that is nearly impossible to escape.

The good news is that we can train our minds to think positively. Positive thinking and gratitude are like a muscle that builds through training. Start to focus on positive affirmations, initiate a gratitude practice into your day, and look for patterns that trigger negative thoughts. Train your mind towards the positive and watch yourself grow!

2. Enjoy the Journey

We all face challenges and setbacks – it’s how we learn lessons in life. However, your outlook can determine your experience in a personal or professional setting. 

With a positive mindset, you are more likely to treat setbacks as a piece of the larger puzzle. A sense of optimism in challenging environments can lift the work burden and allow you to look at the bigger picture.

You’ll start to see that setbacks are not always bringing you down, which helps you find joy in the journey. 

3. Build Resilience

Unfortunately, life isn’t always easy, and we can’t all be winners all the time. When the going gets tough, it’s easy to start looking for an escape route from the turbulence. However, this avoidance is not the solution you may think.

Running away or ignoring a challenge can make it feel bigger and more daunting. As the pieces pile up, the puzzle becomes more intimidating. 

When everything piles up, it’s harder to tackle. So take a deep breath, set your shoulders, give yourself a pep talk, and make a conscious effort for a positive reset. You’ll find it gets a little bit easier, shifts a little bit faster with each practice.

4. Improve Physical & Mental Health

Small adjustments to your thoughts over time can result in major shifts. A positive mindset is proven to improve health. By shifting your mindset, you can experience health benefits such as:

• Increased life span
• Less depression
• Lower levels of stress
• Better well-being
• And much more.

How Can Leaders Cultivate the Right Mindset?

Realistically, one size doesn’t fit all. Each one of us is unique, and while some approaches may work for you, others may not.

Being a positive leader has many meanings with varying results. If your goal is to cultivate a sense of positivity and resilience, lead by example and start with yourself. 

Your personal efforts will help motivate others to adopt their own positive habits. 

Focus on What’s In Your Control

Too many people get caught up in the inevitable, allowing their thoughts to circle around the negative. “The deadline’s too close!” “My new client is unhappy!” “Our project is way off track!” Of course, all of these things are important, so rather than feeding the negative spiral, ask yourself what can be done within your scope of control. 

A leader stuck on the negative won’t find a way to make it right. Redirect your attention toward what’s doable, fixable, and changeable. Look at this as an opportunity to learn and be proactive in future situations.

As Isaac Newton stated, an object in motion tends to stay in motion. The deadline is too tight? Adjust the scope (with stakeholder buy-in of course) and knock it out of the park. Your client is unhappy? Search for their root concern, using the opportunity to really build on the relationship. Maybe they’ll realize the underlying root cause has nothing to do with you! The small wins help create the momentum for big wins down the road.

Practice Gratitude and Express It Often

We often forget there’s a lot to feel thankful for. Gratitude is a powerful feeling which can be cultivated with mindful practice, creating space to grow. 

Start with small steps in your day, such as a gratitude journal or stating three things you’re grateful for each morning. You can start small and work up toward your big picture. 

If you’re going through a challenging time, find things to be grateful for. Your client may be unhappy, but be grateful they pointed out an issue that can be fixed. A deadline may have been missed, but you’re grateful for the necessary shift in direction it caused, resulting in a better product. Don’t forget to look for patterns in your thought process and make adjustments accordingly. 

Also, remember that positivity is contagious, so expressing gratefulness to those around you goes a long way. Show your gratitude authentically to help your team feel valued. Taking time to appreciate their commitment and efforts helps build self-esteem, team camaraderie, and overall morale. 

Look for Silver Linings

Problem-solving is a skill you’ll rely on heavily as you fight against the odds. Think outside of the box, look for unexpected opportunities, and focus on building strong relationships to persevere. Adapt, learn, look for opportunities, and remember to stay curious. 

With perseverance, determination, curiosity, and a positive attitude, you’ll see the shift in your team as they adjust their energy. It takes one spark to light a fire, and igniting this flame is your job. 

Want to Know More?

Don’t let the feelings of overwhelm pull you down! Learning and growth never stop, and we’ve offered up a few great places to start. 

Move forward one step at a time, starting with gratitudes we often forget: shelter, clean drinking water, family, and friends. Then gradually shift your mindset, expand your gratitude, and experience the mental growth. Looking for more support? Consider working with a coach or a mentor that can help you find your best approach.