The ability to bring out the best in people is a vital leadership skill. It is the people – their creativity, collaboration, resilience, and dedication – that drive organizational success.
However, many leaders face obstacles that prevent them from fully harnessing the potential of their teams. These obstacles can range from a focus on problems rather than possibilities, a culture of blame instead of learning, or a lack of trust and collaboration. These factors create an environment where people’s abilities and contributions are underutilized, leading to decreased engagement, performance, and innovation.
What is appreciative leadership?
Appreciative Leadership, an approach built on the foundations of Appreciative Inquiry, presents a powerful answer to these challenges.
Developed by David Cooperrider and Diana Whitney in the 1980s, Appreciative Inquiry is a strength-based approach to organizational development that focuses on exploring and amplifying what’s working well, rather than fixing what’s wrong.
Appreciative Leadership takes this philosophy and applies it to the practice of leadership. Proponents such as Jacqueline Stavros, Gina Hinrichs, and Jeanie Cockell argue that by focusing on strengths, possibilities, and positivity, leaders can create environments where people feel valued, inspired, and empowered to give their best.
Many organizations worldwide have embraced Appreciative Leadership principles and have seen transformative results.
For example, Apple, under the leadership of Tim Cook, has been known to apply strength-based leadership approaches, emphasizing teamwork, positivity, and individual strengths.
Another example is Google, where Project Aristotle discovered the importance of psychological safety and positive team dynamics for high performance, aligning well with Appreciative Leadership principles.
The aim of this guide is to delve deeper into the principles and practices of Appreciative Leadership and explore how Filipino leaders can apply them to bring out the best in their teams.
By embracing this approach, leaders can overcome obstacles that prevent them from unlocking their team’s potential, leading to increased engagement, performance, and organizational success.
Let’s begin this journey of appreciation and positivity, leading our organizations toward a brighter, more successful future.
Develop an Appreciative Mindset
The Power of An Appreciative Mindset
In many organizations, blaming, victim thinking, and finding fault can be the norm. This negativity discourages risk-taking, stifles creativity, and obstructs progress. However, by adopting an appreciative mindset, leaders can instigate a profound shift in their team dynamics.
An appreciative mindset focuses on valuing and magnifying the positive aspects of a situation, team, or individual.
This approach doesn’t mean ignoring problems but reframing them as opportunities for improvement and innovation. In environments where appreciation is the norm, teams develop resilience, creativity flourishes, and a sense of collective ownership evolves.
For instance, consider a team that didn’t meet a project deadline. A leader with an appreciative mindset would recognize the team’s hard work, encourage them to learn from the experience and collaborate on strategies for improvement, thus creating an atmosphere of trust and motivation.
Shift Focus from Weaknesses to Strengths
Often, the focus in many workplaces is on ‘fixing’ weaknesses or improving areas of poor performance. While it’s important to address shortcomings, an overemphasis on negatives can lead to demotivation and low morale.
Appreciative leaders, on the other hand, recognize and value the unique strengths of their team members.
They allocate tasks aligned with these strengths, creating opportunities for individuals to excel.
They also consistently acknowledge and appreciate these strengths, boosting morale and job satisfaction.
If a team member is particularly good at public speaking, an appreciative leader might task her with leading presentations or meetings to utilize her strength while providing her an opportunity to shine.
Embrace A Growth-Oriented Mindset
Appreciative leadership also entails fostering a growth-oriented mindset, which emphasizes the potential for constant learning and development.
Believe in the potential of your team and understand that abilities can be developed through effort and persistence.
To cultivate this mindset, you can:
- Encourage Risk-taking: Promote a safe environment where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, not failures.
- Promote Continuous Learning: Create a culture that values personal and professional growth.
- Value Persistence: Acknowledge the effort and dedication, not just the outcomes. This encourages a culture of resilience and perseverance.
- Offer Constructive Feedback: Provide balanced feedback that not only highlights areas of improvement but also recognizes strengths and successes.
An appreciative mindset, focusing on strengths, and nurturing a growth-oriented culture is key to developing the mindset of appreciative leadership.
While this shift requires concerted effort, the rewards – in terms of team motivation, engagement, and performance – are indeed compelling.
