Lead Positive

About the Author

Kathryn D. Cramer, Ph.D., is a pioneering figure in the field of positive psychology and leadership. She is the founder and managing partner of the Cramer Institute, where she has worked with high-profile clients such as DuPont, Prudential Real Estate, Starbucks, and Microsoft. Cramer is an accomplished author with nine books to her name and has also won an Emmy for her film "Stress: A Personal Challenge." Her expertise in Asset-Based Thinking (ABT) is at the core of her work, helping leaders focus on strengths, possibilities, and the positive aspects of situations to inspire and drive change.

Main Idea

The essence of Kathryn D. Cramer’s book Lead Positive: What Highly Effective Leaders See, Say and Do lies in the integration of positive psychology and neuroscience to create effective leadership strategies. Cramer introduces the concept of Asset-Based Thinking (ABT), which shifts leaders' focus from negative aspects to positive, beneficial facts of any given situation. This mental shift enhances leaders' optimism, empathy, and confidence, making their words and actions more inspiring and effective. By fostering a positive mindset, leaders can create a culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and high performance.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Part 1: What Highly Effective Leaders See
• What You See Is What You Get
• The ASA Shift
• Focus on the Past
• Focus on the Present
• Focus on the Future
• Leadership by Lightning or Listening
3. Part 2: What Highly Effective Leaders Say
• From See to Say
• Say It with Substance, Sizzle, and Soul
• What You Say and How You Say It
• Say It with Substance
• Say It with Sizzle
• Say It with Soul
4. Part 3: What Highly Effective Leaders Do
• From Say to Do: It's a Very Short Trip
• Reactive or Responsive: It's Up to You
• Asset-Based Thinking Leadership Strategies for Responsiveness
• Start Being Before You Start Doing
• The Three Cs
• Driving Positive Change
• The Seven Key Dos of Positive Change

Introduction

Imagine a world where leaders see more possibilities than problems, say more about "why" and less about "what" and "how," and courageously step out of their comfort zones to inspire their teams. Kathryn D. Cramer’s book Lead Positive envisions this world, proposing that effective leadership is rooted in positivity, self-confidence, and optimism. This foundation enables leaders to create a compelling vision, foster trust and respect, and inspire collective action towards a brighter future.

Part 1: What Highly Effective Leaders See

What You See Is What You Get

Leaders often respond faster and more intensely to problems than to possibilities. This bias toward negativity is rooted in our brain's neural circuitry designed for survival. However, in everyday leadership, this can trigger a downward spiral. Cramer suggests that leaders must intentionally focus on positive, valuable aspects of situations to trigger a virtuous cycle of positive thinking and action.