High Performing Teams: (David Cooperrider)

Following are positive practices that can be incorporated daily, weekly, monthly – professionally and personally. Whilst the practices below are presented linearly, each practice interacts with and/or impacts other practices. They are dynamic, and it is through this dynamic that they create transformational shifts:

• Positive energy—The impact of energy on others. Understand and test the positivity ratio of 3:1 (Dr Barbara Fredrickson). To what extent do you raise the energy of those you work with, those you lead? The impact of energy on self—how resilient are you?
• Positive language—Reframe situations, phrases and questions. Reframe negative situations into positive desires. Develop and ask positive, generative questions to build generative connections. Use active and constructive responding vs. passive/constructive, active/destructive or passive/destructive.
• Positive images—Identify the positive images of the present and of the future that you, your team, your organisation wants to create; embrace positive image of self and others. Dream about your future.
• Positive emotions—Explore and embed the broadening and building effect of positive emotions; the undoing effect of positive emotions (Barbara Fredrickson).
• Positive mindset and mindfulness—Understand growth mindset versus fixed mindset and the notion of unconditional positive regard … what does this look and sound like? Use mindfulness tools and exercises to build resilience.
• Positive learning and positive coaching—Focus on strengths and successes, not weaknesses and mistakes.
• Conduct a Team SOAR (rather than a SWOT)—strengths, opportunities, aspirations, results (Jackie Stavros).
• Practice random acts of kindness.
• Practice gratitude, be grateful. Positive emotion leads to positive action leads to positive emotion leads to positive action and so on ... grow an “appreciative eye” … at home and at work.
• Savour goodness – be mindful of the current situation and explore the positive elements of the past. Share goodness with others.
• Conduct appreciative check-ins.
• Identify and apply your strengths.
• Conduct a root-cause-of-success analysis rather than a root-cause analysis.
• Develop Talent Identity Cards. Use co-inquiry to identity these talents.
• Individuals, teams, organisations move in the direction that they study … study successes rather than mistakes; study high performing teams.
• Follow your passions. Be curious and playful. Open your mind and heart to new perspectives, ideas and people.
• Connect with others. Connect with nature. Engage fully.