CIO Straight Talk - Issue 11 - 27

what goes into the sausage, which makes for
better sausage.
Finally, the approach drives clients themselves to
be engaged. And an engaged client, involved in
setting the direction and understanding the timing
of a project, is more likely to be a happy client.
That is, they "support what they help to create"!

HOW TO ENCOURAGE
A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
When I welcome new employees to the team, one
of my main messages is that I want them to be
happy. Why? Because happy people are productive
people, and that benefits the organization.
Furthermore, given how much of our life we devote
to work, we better be having a good time!
I also tell them that, to a large extent, they have
the choice of how they feel at work. Something
I once heard Kevin Carroll, a former Nike
executive, say in a speech stuck with me: "You
choose your attitude, every day." He referred to
a switch in our brain that we control. You decide
in the morning whether to switch it to UP or
DOWN, positive or negative. Yes, sometimes
whether you have a good or bad day is out of
your control, but usually it is totally up to you.
So, when I'm asked, "Julian, how are you doing?",
my typical answer is "AWESOME." Just saying
that helps seal the feeling in my psyche.

People who are negative at work are like a
black hole, sucking others into their negative energy
drain. I work with such people to move their switch
to UP. If they can't do it, I suggest they find a
career in something that does make them happy.

WHAT KIND OF
LEADER ARE YOU?
As I said, the email I received from my
colleague Raghavendra Manavalli got me
thinking about my leadership style. (It turns
out that Raghu - who in the nine years I
have mentored him has risen from software
engineer to our operations director in India -
emailed me because he was in the process
of thinking about his leadership style.) My
advice from what I have learned as a leader
of a high performing team: Collaborate
with your team leaders to build trust and
respect - and teach/encourage them to do
likewise. Develop behavior-changing metrics
to measure your way towards clear goals.
Following these principles, you will find your
way to success.
Of course, there are various ways to be a
leader. One size doesn't fit all. But it's
important that you understand your approach.
Can you summarize your leadership style? Do
you have a "leadership mantra"? Is your style
effective? What might you change and what
should you reinforce?

1

Having a "leadership mantra" can help guide you as a

2

In determining your own leadership style, it is

leader and reinforce your positive leadership traits.

helpful to break it down into several elements - for
example, how you treat people and how you measure
teams' performance.

3

A positive attitude toward work improves
productivity and makes work more enjoyable.
People need to learn that they have a daily choice in
determining how they feel about their jobs.

27
CIO Straight Talk - Issue 11

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CIO Straight Talk - Issue 11
