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Cultivating Positive Identities

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In the reading assignment, Cultivate Positive Identities, Laura Roberts talks about ways individuals, and managers can use positive thinking, to enrich their lives, and those around them. She states that, “most individuals seek to hold positive self-views, desiring to be viewed positively by others” (How to Be a Positive Leader, 2014). Together, with positive thinking methods, the author of the chapter believes that positive identities are achievable and lead to a more fulfilling life. This chapter was somewhat overwhelming to read, as it mentioned many methods and strategies involved in “cultivating positive identities”.
Content wise, I feel like everyone and their mother is coming up with new “systems” and self help models. There are …show more content…

It wouldn’t hurt to try some of the principles advocated. For example, the author suggests using positive identity labels in living every day life. She states that, “Completing this inventory can help leaders to take on my positive (virtuous) identity labels, which can lead to more desirable behavior” (How to Be a Positive Leader, 2014). The author offers the method of achieving the desired result, and defines the desired result, but does not offer examples of when or how it works. It is understandable that those who take on more positive self identifying labels in their attributes, can become more desirable people, as their thinking processes reflect through their actions, but realistically, without a proven track record, I can only recommend readers to remain weary of such …show more content…

Per the author, if we see ourselves in a certain light, we will act in that way, as we are defined by how we think. She states that, if we see ourselves in a negative way, that transfers over to the way we communicate with others, or even subordinates. She used the example of, how a manager with a narcissistic personality may be off-putting to fellow employees, which in turn will cause the employees to avoid the manager. On the other hand, being compassionate and understanding, and using positive viewpoints, can help foster relationships and better communication between a manager and subordinates. I agree with the message; however, I disagree with the format the chapter was presented in. The information and guides provided, could have been condensed to facilitate the enacting of these principles. The amount of information and systems advocated caused a sensory overload when I first attempted to read the chapter. That does not mean the advice was false or that it doesn’t work, but the way it was presented was not the best for learning and absorbing the

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