Leadership Hacks That Make an Immediate Impact

Other studies (summarized here) found that positive reinforcement of behavior makes it more likely that behavior will be repeated. Those studies found, “ample evidence supporting the motivating impact of simply feeling appreciated for a job well-done.”

Efforts to punish someone for perceived undesirable behavior (like docking pay for chronic lateness) are less effective. Better results are achieved by addressing the source of the problem and adding positive reinforcement, like permitting the employee to work at home or assigning a parking spot closer to the office entrance.

To motivate your employees, heed this advice: “managers help people see themselves as they are; Leaders help people to see themselves better than they are” (Rohn, 2014).

Other leadership hacks

This article provides a wealth of information about additional leadership hacks that foster a productive, collegial work environment. They include:

• First-class benefits;
• Adding humor to the workplace;
• Making it easier for employees to exercise;
• Tuition assistance; and
• Availability of childcare.

A walk in the park

I see a lot of stressed advisors. There’s a simple hack that relieves stress and promotes happiness.

I recently suffered a personal loss. I co-founded a private company more than two decades ago with a wonderful person who ran the company. I was largely a passive investor. He died all too young from complications of a chronic disease. While his death was not entirely unexpected, it still came as a shock. I was deeply upset and feeling generally low.

I made a change to my daily exercise routine. Instead of going to the gym, I started taking long walks. I’m still sad, but my walks were immediate mood enhancers.

A recent study validated my experience. The study involved 60 healthy older adults. They took weekly “awe walks” for just 15 minutes, over an eight-week period. An “awe walk” is “a stroll in which you intentionally shift your attention outward instead of inward.”

The group that took the “awe walks” reported greater joy and positive emotions during their walks and were generally happier than the control group. They also perceived less stress in their daily lives, and diminished negative emotions.

If you or your colleagues need a quick “happiness fix,” consider scheduling a regular “awe walk.”

For more information about marketing and branding opportunities with Dan’s book, Ask: How to Relate to Anyone, click here.

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