Dr. Verna explains how her power model give strategies and tools for increasing workplace morale
In a time where the economy is suffering, major corporations are downsizing, employee morale is low, and you might be sick and tired of being sick and tired, the thought of “Adding” to others might sound ridiculous! However, if you read on for one minute, I will share a phenomenon called the “Adder Effect” that will help you through these difficult times and when applied, will increase your influence, positive thinking and value in the workplace.
The “Adder Effect” is based on two core principles. The first, servant leadership comes from research showing that the one who serves with the motive to simply help others is the one who transforms into a ‘true leader”. To serve means to help others without expecting anything in return. Are you willing to serve someone else’s vision?
Some call this leading by example, or leading from within, others like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his inspiring writing, “The Drum Major Instinct”, notes that everyone has an inherent need to feel important and to be noticed and that when you serve others without strings attached you will understand your own importance to humanity and give up your need to be noticed. The second principle is called Seed–Time-Harvest. Like most of you, I look forward to spring after a long winter season. During spring, the flower bulbs you planted in the fall season, after a long winter of growing and maturing underground, become plants that bloom beautiful flowers.
So what does this have to do with the “Adder Effect”? When a person begins to add to others, they have to tap into their “Adder” power source. An Adder as defined in my book, “The Power of People: Four Kinds of People Who Can Change Your Life (2003), is a powerful person who “brings positive influence into your life without attaching strings. They add to your life not for self-gratification or self-promotion but because they authentically care about you as a person and want to empower you to reach your fullest potential. The heart of an Adder is to see you become a positive, powerful person”
When you choose to be an Adder, you plant seeds of integrity, leadership, character, and yes, success and financial prosperity in your life while creating pathways for your natural leadership abilities to emerge. Why? Because as you begin to serve others, you mature into a personal leader who is empathic, considerate, compassionate, honest, and kind. In other words, you understand that your quest for success and prosperity is not just about you. On the contrary, it’s about how much you are willing to serve others. That is what determines your success! One of my role models, Zig Ziglar says that your success in business starts when you begin building yourself (get to know who you really are), then build people (become an Adder), then people will build your business for you (Seed-Time- Harvest).
How do you apply the Adder Effect? First, choose to be an Adder then decide on who, how, or where you want to add. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Help a new employee navigate your corporate culture
- Volunteer to work on a committee
- Join the team that is working on the corporate fund drive for a local not-for- profit
- Be a friendly and courteous person to your entire team, even those you don’t particularly like!
The bottom line is that the “Adder Effect” is really about how to effectively use your power so that you can find success in your business, career and life.