February 5, 2019
Developing a Positive Culture through Positive Leadership
By Aneil Mishra
Dr. Kim Cameron
Dr. Kim S. Cameron, William Russell Kelly Professor of Management and Organizations, Emeritus at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan recently discussed with the College of Business his most recent work, which focuses on positive leadership. Leadership accounts for about 20 percent to 30 percent of the variance in the performance of an organization, making it the single most important factor of an organization’s success. Incentives, culture, strategy, goals, processes, etc., all matter, but without a good leader, the rest of these factors will not work in conjunction with one another. To create positive leadership, leaders must create a positive climate, a positive meaning, positive communications and positive relationships.
To create positive leadership, leaders must develop a positive climate as well as positive relationships in their organizations. Leadership strategies that help engender a positive climate in organizations include
- modeling and encouraging acts of compassion (noticing, feeling and responding);
- encouraging collective forgiveness (acknowledging harm, identifying purpose, maintaining standards, providing support, using appropriate language); and
- encouraging expressions of gratitude (visits, letters, journals, cards).
Such virtuous acts tend to create a climate in which people are cared for, supported and encouraged to flourish. One way in which leaders can promote positive relationships is by reinforcing individual and organizational strengths. Identifying and building on people’s strengths can produce greater benefit than finding and correcting their weaknesses. As confirmed by empirical studies, these activities are associated with positive physiological, mental, emotional and organizational effects.
Dr. Aneil Mishra is the acting associate dean for the College of Business and the Thomas D. Arthur Distinguished professor of Leadership in COB’s Department of Management.
Dr. Cameron’s appearance is part of the Cunanan Leadership Speaker Series, which is made possible by a gift from alumni Steve (’87) and Ellen (’88) Cunanan. It is designed to bring distinguished leaders to ECU and eastern North Carolina who can discuss leadership, professional development, ethics, and the role of business in modern society.
