As leaders we are trained to focus on what’s wrong so we can fix it. But in the process, are we missing what is right? 

 

Years ago, when I owned a healthcare company, we began a conference called “What’s Right in Health Care®.” My reasoning was if people only hear what is wrong, they get worn down and worn out. I am not naïve. I understood that there were, and are, many issues in healthcare that need to be fixed. However, if we only notice what is wrong, a number of not-so-great things will take place. 

 

First, people will lose energy. If they hear only what is wrong every time they turn around, they will have a negative feeling when they see, hear, or read something from the individual or company sharing the “bad news.” It takes hearing three positive messages to one negative message to feel good about the sender. A ratio of 2-to-1 creates a neutral feeling. A 1-to-1 ratio creates a negative feeling. 

 

Think about the serial “letter to the editor” writer who attacks people and points out what is wrong offering few (or no) solutions. After a while, we begin to dread seeing the letter writer’s name, don’t we? I don’t know about you, but I am paying less and less attention to many TV shows, social media sites, etc., as it seems they are constantly pointing out what’s wrong. 

 

We can’t ignore what is wrong, but we can’t ignore what is right, either. 

 

This truth has been brought home to me as I visit communities that ask me to share what makes a vibrant community. Before I visit, I ask them to complete a self-assessment. It includes questions on how easy it is to start a business, to keep or attract talent, and so forth. It asks about the health of the downtown, the educational system, the engagement of citizens, etc. 

 

When I ask people to rank these items on a scale of 1 to 10, I find that most results are in the 5 range, with maybe one around a 7 and a few in the 2 to 3 range. Written comments are often negative and point to a low self-concept as a community. Yet when I visit these communities, while the challenges are evident, I notice the positives more than those living there.

 

For example, I noticed one small community still has a downtown movie theatre, is very close to a river, and has a high school graduation rate of 94 percent. In another city, I noticed many beautiful older buildings that could be repurposed, wide downtown streets that could be re-marked to open up lots of space for outdoor dining and bike lanes, vacant parcels that could be brought to life without new infrastructure, and a great STEM school. In yet another city, I noticed that their hospital has moved from a D to a B in Leapfrog Group ratings (my favorite rating system), graduation rates have climbed significantly, there is a small art school with very high national ratings, and there is a wonderful river at the end of town. 

 

In fact, the headline of one local paper read, “Studer Sees Positives Where Residents Don’t.” 

I have found that starting with what’s right not only helps people feel better about communities, but also it paves the way to finding solutions. 

 

I take the “what’s right” approach in business as well. When meeting with people at a company, I always start out with two questions. One is: “Why are you doing the work you are doing?” The landscaper will talk about working outside, working with their hands, creating something so much better. The waitstaff will talk about their love of people and the teamwork that happens in a restaurant. The teacher will say they’ve always wanted to teach and will mention running into students years later who share what a difference they made. 

 

Then I will ask them: “Why are you working for this organization?” In most cases, it is a job the person could do somewhere else. Discussing the positives of working where they work gets everyone in the right frame of mind to tackle the challenges. Yes, in all companies, just like in all communities, there are things that can improve. Starting with “what’s right” lays a healthy foundation for improving those other items. 

 

When we start with the positives, we feel good about ourselves and our company. We feel our work is meaningful. This gives us the energy and feeling of ownership we need to take action. Coming from a place of positivity makes us want to make things even better. And the solutions to our challenges can usually be found in our strengths.

 

A few tips on how you can shift to a “what’s right” mindset:

 

Take time for a self-inventory. True self-awareness means seeing oneself objectively: the good and the bad. At times this requires feedback in various forms; ask those around you. It’s tempting to zero-in on what is wrong, and in fact, I find that leaders tend to view this as their job. However, it’s vital to spend just as much or more time on your good points—your talents and positive traits. Remember, there is already a “what’s right” in simply being willing to look at what’s wrong.

 

Study the strengths of yourself, the organization, and/or the community. How will these strengths help you address areas that can be improved? When you look for what’s right, you will be amazed at the solutions that jump out at you.

 

Don’t give the negative people so much power. It is amazing in communities and organizations how a few negative people can have such impact. Also, don’t let them hide behind generalities. When you hear statements like, “Everybody thinks…,” or, “Nobody wants to…,” request specific names to go talk to. Chances are you will get very few or none. 

 

Share your gratitude. Thank someone. Let them know the impact they make. Many years ago, my dear friend Norm Adams, who has since passed away, went up to a street cleaner in New Orleans to thank him for what he was doing and to share that his work made the visit so much better. Watching this, I could see man’s face brighten up. After Norm walked on, I stayed to ask the street sweeper a few questions. I asked how long he had been doing this work, and he shared a number that revealed he had been street sweeping many years. I then asked him how often people stopped to say thank you. He told me this was the first time. 

 

We don’t have only a certain amount of gratitude and thank-yous to go around. We have an unlimited supply. In fact, the more we express gratitude, the more we receive in return.

 

Take time to see what’s right in yourself, in others, in your work, and in your community. There is so much in the world that is beautiful and good. When we notice and appreciate it, we feel better and we make others feel better too. It’s just a better way to live.