Create a Positive Climate Leader Tasks:

Task 1: Analyze team climate.

• Climate is about the shared perceptions and attitudes of team members. A team’s climate can change quickly, for better or worse, based on the actions of team members and leaders.
• Positive climates are characterized by positive emotions. In a positive climate, people are more flexible, creative, and open to new ideas. Positive emotions help people cope with stress.
• People that work in a positive climate are more likely to develop cohesion and find purpose in the work that they do. Creating a positive climate sets the conditions for team learning.
• High morale is a consequence of creating a positive climate. People that work in a positive climate are more resilient.

Task 2: Earn trust.

• People are more willing to accept the influence of leaders that they trust. Because people are naturally skeptical of their leaders, it takes time for leaders to earn trust.
• When people perceive leaders as trustworthy, it inspires positive emotions and attitudes. Trust mitigates feelings of uncertainty and stress.
• People trust leaders that are authentic and have integrity. Being competent and confident also earns trust.
• People are more willing to take creative risks when they trust their leaders. Teams that trust their leaders are more effective at solving problems and overcoming challenges.

Task 3: Treat people with respect.

• When leaders treat people with respect, it improves job satisfaction, engagement, and productivity.
• Leaders are respectful when they value the opinions of team members. Active listening is a show of respect.
• Leaders are respectful when they recognize the hard work and contributions of team members.
• Leaders are respectful when they embrace diversity. Being fair, consistent, and inclusive is a show of respect.

Task 4: Enforce accountability.

• Enforcing accountability requires that standards for workplace conduct, performance, and learning are clearly communicated to the team.
• Leaders must hold themselves accountable. Leaders set the example for accountability by showing people “what right looks like”.
• When people learn from their mistakes, they are being accountable. A workplace without accountability is undisciplined and chaotic.
• Leaders should enforce accountability fairly and consistently. In most cases, enforcing accountability is about correction and not punishment.

Task 5: Encourage people to have fun.

• Having fun at work encourages camaraderie and builds social bonds. Having fun fosters collaboration and creativity.
• Having fun at work encourages job satisfaction, engagement, and productivity. A fun work environment helps to recruit and retain the best people.
• Having fun at work helps people relax and take a mental break from the challenges they face. Humor and laughter are effective coping mechanisms against job stress.
• Leaders can encourage people to have fun at work by allocating time and resources accordingly.

Task 6: Demonstrate character.

• A leader’s character will make or break their reputation. People will not give 100% of their efforts to leaders that lack character.
• Moral courage, empathy, humility, and honesty are the “must have” components of character for leaders.
• Demonstrating character is the best way to lead by example. Moral courage and honesty earn trust. Humility and empathy show respect.
• Ethical challenges are a regular source of adversity in organizations. People of character handle stress better.  

Task 7: Manage expectations.

• Plans rarely go as expected. Managing expectations helps people maintain a sense of control in the face of adversity.
• The sense of control that comes from managing expectations is empowering and leads to more effective problem-solving.
• Being mentally prepared for the unexpected enables proactive coping by enabling people to find coherence and predictability in adversity.
• Being pragmatic and prepared for bad outcomes doesn’t make someone a pessimist. Instead, when people see that challenges are manageable, it helps them remain optimistic and hopeful.

Supporting Knowledge:

Know the relationship between culture and climate.

Know the relationship between climate and morale.

Know why earning trust creates a positive climate and builds collective resilience.

Know how to earn trust.

Know the relationship between authenticity and earning trust.

Know why treating people with respect creates a positive climate and builds collective resilience.

Know how to treat people with respect.

Know the relationship between inclusion and treating people with respect.

Know why enforcing accountability creates a positive climate and builds collective resilience.

Know how to enforce accountability.

Know why encouraging people to have fun creates a positive climate and builds collective resilience.

Know how to encourage people to have fun.

Know why demonstrating the character traits of moral courage, honesty, humility, and empathy creates a positive climate and builds collective resilience.

Know how to demonstrate the character traits of moral courage, honesty, humility, and empathy.

Know why managing expectations creates a positive climate and builds collective resilience.

Know how to manage expectations.

Know why creating a positive climate builds resilience.

Know how to create a positive climate.

Updated 8/14/2020