Todd, controls division project manager for a large general contractor in eastern Washington, told Session 10A of the Leadership Development LAB:

“As I reflected over the past three months and tried to honestly, objectively think about how I was before the Turbo Leadership Development Lab classes started, I realized how negative of a person I had become. I don’t know when it started and I don’t think I had always been that way. I think I had just fallen unconsciously into this pattern of seeing what was wrong, broken, or missing. Most of my statements, many of my thoughts, and a lot of my comments were negative. At Session 3, Larry challenged us to find a project that we would commit to applying five times more enthusiasm toward achieving. I began to put five times more enthusiasm into the construction of my walkway at home, the word ‘enthusiasm’ really struck me. In the movie ‘Remember the Titans’, one of the members of the football team makes a statement to the captain; ‘ATTITUDE REFLECTS LEADERSHIP!’ This was the shift that I needed. I have begun to make it a priority to look and think about my attitude all the time. I now realize that I had fallen into an attitude of ‘my cup is half empty’. I seemed to always concentrate on the flaw. This small shift that has changed

everything for me is an attitude of ‘my cup is half full’, appreciation and gratitude for what is even when it isn’t perfect, ideal, or just exactly like I would like it. I’ve watched the power of harsh words tear someone down and the power of an encouraging word build someone up. I’ve watched my bad attitude transfer to the crew and others I’m working with and my good attitude come out in my children. I must say I really hadn’t realized the power of my words to built up or tear down until I became a conscientious observer of how others responded to what were often words that I hadn’t given that much thought to. I lead by example; I can try to deny it, but it is true, and I want that example to be a good, encouraging, positive example.

The lesson I have learned from this experience of continuous observation is that my attitude affects everyone around me, whether negative or positive. The action I call you to take is to think about your attitude all the time, notice your words. They can be a great clue as to what your attitude is. The benefit you will gain is that you will be apologizing less, encouraging more, and becoming a person everyone wants to be around. Exercising attitude control for the purpose of being a positive example is an important part of your program to becoming a truly empowering leader.”