Leadership is all about bringing new things into existence. You can't do that without first visualizing what the new thing will be like. Think of it as your mental visioning capacity. With it, you are able to create the picture that energizes people toward greater performance. Without it, you are merely a manager of people in somebody else's picture. Look around you. Do you see leaders or managers?

Now, see yourself leading a team meeting where problems are being solved. As a good leader, you have your mental visioning capacity fully engaged. You can see the better future ahead for everyone. But you also feel discomfort when you compare the future you imagine with where the team is now. What do you say?

Don't say "There's hell of a long way to go!"

Shouting out negative thoughts creates a spiritual downer, which always ends in poor results. Each person has to respond to your negativity. Some people may be motivated, others may choose to give less than their best, even avoid participating. Why risk it? In reality, you're either boasting or worrying that you may fail.

There's a fundamental spiritual leadership principle here. It's called the Spiritual Multiplier Effect and it is simply amazing. When two or more people are together, the leader has the possibility of engaging the combined spiritual power of the entire group by the way he manages his own inner spiritual core. However, this multiplier effect works in a negative as well as a positive spiritual direction. Misery in the leader engages more misery in the team. Optimism and joy in the leader brings out even more positive qualities in the team. 

We all have memories of being on incredibly productive and joyful teams. Simply put, our leader managed his or her neediness so the positives got multiplied and the negatives didn't. The feeling of being part of a great team delivering amazing results builds relationships that last a lifetime.

Ten things you can do to prevent your self-induced negativity messing up your team meetings:

1. Call a break.
2. Say nothing.
3. Change the subject.
4. Ask someone else for a perspective.
5. Say a prayer.
6. Ask for fresh ideas.
7. Defer discussion to another time.
8. Say a mental affirmation, like "I know I can get a better result."
9. Openly acknowledge you are struggling with temporary negative feelings (this is strength not weakness.)
10. Visit the A New Equilibrium instant help survey for fast and anonymous suggestions.

Here's a clue to becoming a great leader. That difference you see, the one between your vision and the current reality, is it a good thing or a bad thing that it exists?

At your core, if you feel the difference is bad, your negative feelings will be transmitted as you move into problem solving. Team members will then respond according to your negativity, e.g., with complaints, defensiveness, or even anger.

When you fully accept the difference as a good thing, your positive inner spirit comes into play. You have command of the Spiritual Multiplier Effect. People respond to you by listening more, sharing ideas for solutions, and supporting each other. You're on the energizing upward spiral. 

It's your choice. Is it good or bad to know you need to improve?

Vote for good. 

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