Page 146 - How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations That Win

HOW DO I BUILD A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT? (EFFECTIVE WORK CULTURE OR SETTING)

with each other (Chapter 5) and savor the work itself (Chapter
7). They see work as adding to their quality of life and per-
sonal well-being, not detracting from it. There is a feeling of
abundance—enough and to spare of what matters most in
our lives: good relationships, meaningful work, learning and
growth, and positive impact on the world. A positive work
environment is one in which:

• • Employees are committed, productive, and likely to stay
with the company
• • Customers pick up on employee attitudes and are more
likely to do business with the company
• • Investors have confidence in the company’s future, giv-
ing it a higher market value
• • The company’s reputation in the community is
enhanced

In this chapter, we lay out 10 attitudes that underlie an
abundant work environment and what leaders can do to
foster them. Table 6.1 at the end summarizes these 10 atti-
tudes and highlights the cynical and abundant options for
each. It also enables you to score your organization on each
attitude.

1. Attitude Toward Success: Arrogance Versus Humility

Recently Dave was asked to speak to a combined group of
business and religious leaders. They asked his view about
the dramatic economic decline that gripped the world. Not
being an economist or financial markets expert, he chose to
talk about the impact of leadership on this decline. When

127