What If….?

•If you could choose any person from

history to be your imaginary friend, who
would it be and why?
•Say you’re independently wealthy and
don’t have to work, what would you do
with your time?
Power of Positive Thinking and
Building Strong Relationships
Dr Gospel Ikpeme
Head of School, HMS Schools
Academic Director/Educational Consultant
www.kavodconsultancy.com
Kavod Institute of Professional Studies
September 5, 2023
Abuja/Kaduna
[email protected]
WINNING STRATEGIES
Attitude – Building a positive attitude

“ If you had a magic wand and there was one

thing you would want changed, that would give
you a cutting edge in the marketplace resulting
in increased productivity and profits, what
would that be?”

---- It is nothing but your attitude.

Today’s Agenda
1. Attitude- Building a positive
attitude
2. Success- Winning strategies
3. Motivation – Motivating yourself
4. How to think and dream
creatively
An Example

When employees say,” I can’t do

it,” there are two possible
meanings. Are they saying they
don’t know how to or they don’t
want to? If they don’t know how to,
that is a training issue. If they are
saying they don’t want to, it may
be an attitude issue.
Habits of the

Heart…

And positive
institutional
culture
 The Three Habits
Habit of the Mind

Habit of the Hand

Habit of the Heart

 Habit of the Heart-
Measuring Passion

Yes, passion
counts!

Likert Scale
 Power of Positive Thinking

Optimistic people become successes

and optimism helps at work.
*
✓❑True
True

❑ False
 Power of Positive Thinking

✓Positive thinking and feedback can be very powerful.

 Power of Positive Thinking

✓Positive thinking can be very powerful.

What comes to mind when

you hear positive thinking?
 Power of Positive Thinking

✓Positive feedback can be very powerful.

Be caring, humble and take time to

❑ Praise
❑ Compliment
❑ Acknowledge
❑ Appreciate
Simply recognize good work and
behavior
 Power of Positive Thinking

Activity
Please discuss and share what positive things
(feedback) you can say to your colleague/co-
worker/employee.

Report Out
 “Love" is not a word you often hear
uttered in office hallways or conference
rooms. And yet, it has a strong
influence on workplace outcomes.

- Harvard Business Review

How do you show Love? Which is more?
1. Learn their stories. 6. Tell them you love
2. Acknowledge their them.
contributions. 7. Acknowledge who
they love.
3. Wine and dine them.
8. Be real with them.
4. Hold regular one-on- 9. Work your butt off
ones. for them.
5. Make yourself available.
Activity

•Divide into small groups

•Based on what you have learned today:
•Discuss three (3) things that may
negatively impact engagement
•Discuss three (3) things that could
positively impact engagement
There is no Right Answer
We all have different personalities and comfort levels.

• Open v. private
• Business v. personal
• Shy v. outgoing

It is most important to be authentic.

20 Easy Engagement Ideas:
1. Create an engaging onboarding 11. Give new hires a culture coach
experience 12. Encourage leaders to take advantage
2. Spice up the work environment of failures
3. Celebrate your people (not just their 13. Provide flexible work hours
work) 14. Throw going away parties for exiting
4. Do a strengths assessment employees
5. Be a motivating coach, not a managing 15. Support volunteer programs
boss 16. Create a feedback safe environment
6. Ask employees to write their own job 17. Ask employees how they prefer to be
description recognized
7. Ask employees for advice 18. Find your champions
8. Encourage individuality 19. Make space for socializing
9. Make sure they’re not overworking 20. Create feedback traditions
10. Get out of the office and have fun
Effective Communication in the Workplace
“Communication is the lifeblood of an organization.”

• In the workplace, everything depends on effective

communication. Poor communication can negatively
impact:
• Productivity
• Collaboration efforts
• Employee motivation
• Employee engagement
The Seven Cs of Communication
• Clear
• Concise
• Concrete
• Correct
• Considered
• Complete
• Courteous
 What is Relationship Building?
Building and Mending Relationships is the ability to develop and
maintain working relationships with various internal and external
parties.

What are work relationships?

• Work relationships are the bonds that develop between you and
others in your professional life.
• Building strong, positive working relationships with everyone you
encounter in your work environment is important to your overall
career success and job satisfaction.
Four Types of Relationships
• Employee-manager Relationship (at any level)

• Multiple Relationships Among Peers

• Relationships between Two or More Departments

• Multiple Relationships between employee and community

Relationship-Building Skills as a Leader

• Interpersonal Skills

• Non-Verbal Communication
Skills

• Verbal Communication Skills

• Listening Skills
Relationship-Building Skills as a Leader

• Empathy

• Emotional Intelligence

• Networking Skills

• Team-Building Skills
Benefits of Building Relationships
• You are better able to focus on your work rather than on
unnecessary disagreements or conflicts.
• You are more likely to enjoy the work you do and have fun
when you are around people you have good relationships
with.
• You can work better in team settings and collaboration
between team members leads to learning new skills.
• You build a strong network of professional connections that
can help you earn promotions and present new career
opportunities.
Benefits of Building Relationships
• Mutual trust and respect are built and earned.
• It is easier to communicate honestly and openly.
• You feel more relaxed and supported in your
work environment.
• A positive work environment can improve your
physical and mental health.
Recognizing engaged behavior
Engaged behaviors Disengaged behaviors

Optimistic Pessimistic

Team-oriented Self-centered

Goes above and beyond High absenteeism

Solution-oriented Negative attitude

Selfless Egocentric

Shows a passion for learning Focuses on monetary worth

Passes along credit but accepts blame Accepts credit but passes along blame
Four Categories of Engagement

• “Engaged" - those who know what to do and want to do it

• “Disengaged" - those who don't know what to do and don't
want to do it
• “Enthusiasts" - those who want to do the work but don't
know how to do it
• “Renegades" - those who know what to do but do not want to
do it
Factors that determine our attitude: -
ENVIRONMENT

➢ Home – positive or negative influences

➢ School- peer pressure
➢ Work- supportive or over-critical supervisor
➢ Media- television, newspaper, magazines, radio , movies
➢ Cultural background
➢ Religious Background
➢ Traditions and belief
➢ Social Environment
➢ Political Environment
Education:
I refer to both formal and informal education, not
just academic qualifications. Knowledge
strategically applied translates into wisdom,
ensuring success.

“ Universities are turning out highly skilled

barbarians because we don’t provide a framework
of values to young people, who more and more are
searching for it”
Small Story

This was a man who failed in business at the age of

21; was defeated in a legislative race at age 22;
failed again in business at age 24; overcame the
death of his sweetheart at age 26, had a nervous
breakdown at age 27; lost a congressional race at
age 34; lost a senatorial race at age 45; failed in an
effort to become vice-president at age 47; lost a
senatorial race at age 49; and was elected
president of the unites states at age 52.
 Motivation – Motivating yourself
Inspiration is changing thinking;
motivation is changing action. If the source of
motivation is belief in inner values, it becomes
long lasting.

There is direct correlation between motivation and

productivity. People who do just enough to get by
so they don’t get fired will never be valuable to
any organization.
External Motivation

External motivation comes from

outside, such as money, societal
approval, fame or fear. Examples
of external motivation are fear of
getting spanked by parents and
fear of getting fired at work.
Internal Motivation
It is the inner gratification, not for success or
winning, but for the fulfillment that comes
from having done it. It is a feeling of
accomplishment, rather than just achieving a
goal. Reaching an unworthy goal does not give
the gratifying feeling. Internal motivation is
lasting, because it comes from within and
translates into self-motivation.
 Demotivating Factors & Motivators:
- Unfair criticism
- Negative criticism
- Public humiliation
- Rewarding the non-performer which can be - Give recognition
demotivating for the performer
- Failure or fear of failure - Give respect
- Success which leads to complacence
- Lack of direction - Make work interesting
- Lack of measurable objectives
- Low self-esteem
- Be a good listener
- Low self-esteem - Throw a challenge
- Lack of priorities
- Negative self-talk - Help but don’t do for
- Office politics
- Unfair treatment others what they should do
- Hypocrisy for themselves
- Poor standards
- Frequent change
Responsibility without authority
Thank
You!