Positive Leadership Strategies For Extraordinary Performance

Beyond Success

Positive Leadership shows how to reach beyond ordinary success to achieve extraordinary effectiveness, spectacular results, and what Kim Cameron calls “positively deviant performance”—performance far above the norm. Citing a wide range of research in organizational behavior, medical science, and psychology as well as real-world examples, Cameron shows that to achieve exceptional success, leaders must emphasize strengths rather than simply focus on weaknesses; foster virtuous actions such as compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness; encourage contribution goals in addition to achievement goals; and enable meaningfulness in work. In this concise, inspiring, and practical guide, Cameron describes four positive leadership strategies, lays out a proven process for implementing them, and includes a self-assessment instrument. This second edition has been updated throughout with new research findings and new ideas for implementing positive leadership.

“This accessible and uplifting book translates years of social science research into actionable guidelines for leaders who wish to make a positive difference in the world.”

—Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management, Harvard Business School

“As innovation, knowledge work, and the stress of global competition become increasingly important features of exceptional organizations, the practice of positive leadership becomes especially relevant. This book is well-worth the quick read and can serve as a valued companion as you generate your own positively deviant performance.”

—Sam Farry, Graziadio Business Review, Pepperdine University

“Positive Leadership brilliantly advances the argument for and validation of tangible strategies for creating extraordinary organizations. This work is comprehensive, well-documented, compelling, and insightful and represents a genuine contribution to the field.”

—Jim Loehr, EdD, CEO and Chairman, Human Performance Institute

The first edition introduced the newly emerging field called Positive Organizational Scholarship. Rather than focusing on organizational dysfunction, Positive Organizational Scholarship looks at organizations that are functioning at an unusually high level. Learning from such successful groups about what they did right forms the backbone of the strategy, because strategies that capitalize on the positive tend to produce life-giving, flourishing outcomes in organizations.

The four strategies discussed in the first edition included the cultivation of positive climate, positive relationships, positive communication, and positive meaning. Each strategy is explained and illustrated. In this revised edition, the author will add the following materials:

Chapter 1: Outlining three outcomes associated with positive leadership and one more example.

Chapter 2: Adding some empirical findings linking attributes of climate with physiological benefits.

Chapter 3: A brief discussion of temporary encounters with positive or negative outcomes.

Chapter 4: Additional research on the results of the positive-to-negative-communication-ratio.

Chapter 5: Elaboration on the issue of meaningfulness in work.

Chapter 6: More ideas for implementation

Kim Cameron is professor of management and organizations at Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business and professor of higher education in the School of Education at the University of Michigan. He is coauthor or co-editor of ten books, including Developing Management Skills, Positive Organizational Scholarship, and Making the Impossible Possible, and is cofounder of the Ross School of Business' Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship, which the Harvard Business Review recognized as one of the Breakthrough Ideas for 2004.

Preface to the Second Edition

1. Positive Leadership

2. Positive Climate

3. Positive Relationships

4. Positive Communication

5. Positive Meaning

6. Implementing Positive Strategies

7. Developing Positive Leadership