Ever get frustrated because it seems that when one person in your office gets sick, everyone gets sick? The person next to you comes down with the flu, and the next thing you know you’re at home calling your manager to let her know you will not be in today. Working so close with other people, we tend to catch everything that is going around. So how can you use this to your advantage as a leader? Do you know that people are taking home your ‘attitude’ every day?

There’s a great leadership book titled ‘Primal Leadership’, that goes into great detail about how, as leaders, we share our behaviors, attitude, and enthusiasm with everyone around us. To emphasize this point, the book talks about a study that was done using subjects that are in an interview room. When a person comes into the room, filled with lots of energy and enthusiasm, the person across the table will actually begin to ‘mirror’ the same physical attributes. Heart rate, blood pressure, as well as external behaviors begin to change and more closely match that of this person. The same effect occurs when a very low energy, negative person engaged with the interviewer.

So what effect do you have as the leader of your team. Your team members look to you for guidance and support, and your behavior has more impact on them than any other person they come into contact with. If you are looking for ways to energize your team, make them more positive and productive simply by demonstrating the energy level and enthusiasm yourself. I’ve often times observed this happen when a new supervisor joins a team, and over a short period of time the team seems to be transformed.

We have what is referred to as an ‘open system’ that relies on external sources to determine our behaviors and emotions. We look to other resources such as people, books, etc to shape what and how we feel about things around us. As a leader, there is an urgent need to take a look at what you are sharing with those around you. Do you change people for the better? Do you excite your team to want to perform better? To support the customer well beyond what is expected? Or, do you tend to bring them down to a lower energy level?

Simple things like saying good morning to everyone when you arrive, smile every chance you get, and share positive, encouraging words with your team every day will spread a positive tone. Be what you want to see!! Find others that will share their energy with the team. One by one, encourage optimism and support of others. Build a team that uses the energy you share to become productive and positive every day. Make sure your team takes home more than just the flu bug!