‘Positive Flow’ Leadership sees leadership as principle-based daily practice towards facilitating a holistic sense of growth and transformation for creating a value based inclusive corporate culture.
The six core values that underpin the Positive Flow Leadership model, and which enable leaders throughout the organisation to deliver desired results while preventing burnout and abrasion, even under pressure, are shown below:
- Flow mindset
- Integrity & Authenticity
- Service
- Character
- Sense of purpose
- Self-Reflection
Positive Flow Leadership is a business leadership strategy which helps individuals, organisations, and managers (at all levels within the organisation) excel under all circumstances. Positive Flow Leadership aims to bring people together around a shared purpose and empower them to step up and lead in such a way as to create value for all stakeholders. Simultaneously it aligns closely with business strategy to drive improved levels of performance across the organisation. Those who embrace Positive Flow Leadership principles are authentic and passionate individuals whose work is shaped by a strong, 'values-based' foundation.
Research has shown that organisations which are 'value-driven' fundamentally increase their prospects of greatness and higher performance. Organisations that take the trouble to ensure that their values are shared widely are those most likely to achieve long term commercial and social sustainability.
There are six fundamental principles of Positive Flow Leadership:
1. FLOW MINDSET: Positive Flow Leadership is a choice, a mindset, and the will. It is a continual commitment that individuals make to themselves and others, repeatedly. This type of commitment follows the principles of the Flow model where the individual embraces an act of voluntarily taking risks to challenge themselves in a meaningful way towards achieving mastery and continual growth.
2. INTEGRITY & AUTHENTICITY: Positive Flow Leadership demands that organisations and those within the organisation have values, ideals, standards, and integrity. The source of energy comes from these values allows individuals to lead by example in a way that inspires others.
3. SERVICE: Positive Flow Leadership recognises that impact is magnified through service to others. They are aware of their area of influence, and they support others through listening, coaching, and mentoring. Developing others is a core value to them and it creates exponential impact and energy in both organisations and individuals.
4. CHARACTER: Those within a Positive Flow Leadership culture show great fortitude, development of character and depth of capabilities. Individuals who practice Positive Flow Leadership recognise that success generates momentum, but character sustains it.
5. SENSE OF PURPOSE: Positive Flow Leadership requires individuals to have a clear sense of purpose, for themselves and for their organisation. With a clear sense of purpose, they focus better and set goals and develop skills aligned with that purpose. Positive Flow Leadership encourages others to:
- set direction (vision, customers, future)
- demonstrate personal character (integrity, habits, trust, analytical thinking)
- mobilise individual commitment (engage, inspire, and influence others)
- develop organisational capability (build teams, manage change)
- embrace principles of Flow: thrive on and excel under pressure, continually raising performance to higher levels (mental toughness - the ability to control stress, motivation, and self-belief and to focus under pressure).
6. SELF-REFLECTION: Positive Flow Leaders know the value of self-reflection for sustainable growth. Such self-reflection is the source of self-awareness, development, and personal and collective transformation.
Leaders focused on achieving results that are aligned with the overall strategic plan of the business must communicate clearly what needs to be accomplished. When results are driven by shared values the best question to ask is: What is the right thing to do? Answers to this question brings clarity of direction and it rejuvenates sense of trust in the leader.
A Positive Flow Leadership culture within an organisation allows individuals to always maintain their poise and performance, even in situations under pressure. They become winners because they are courageous in turning the challenges of a crisis to an advantage. They believe that they can influence positive change in the world and hence, they are passionate about using their leadership to make an impact.