How Positive Deviants Get Extraordinary Results

Giant Ant. Random Order. Jumbo Shrimp. Plastic Silverware.

Positive Deviant.

You’re not used to hearing those two words together. When we think deviant, we think of extremely aberrant negative behavior. There are, however positive deviants. Those who defy the norm in positive ways and get extraordinary results. Take a look at this “deviance continuum” from one of the top leadership experts in the world, Kim Cameron from the University of Michigan:

Ready for this? 90% of medical and psychological research focuses on what it takes to move people from the left of this continuum to the center. From negative to positive.

Is it possible that one reason we aren’t experiencing greater results is because we’re stuck in the center but trying to use “normal” practices to achieve extraordinary results?

I had the privilege of doing my PhD research on the inside story of achieving extraordinary outcomes. I want to share one crucial and foundational factor that will move the needle for you in starting the journey to the right of the bell curve: Positive Energy. If you are a life-giving, life-energizing, contributing to the highest possible good of others style leader, you will be living out the heartbeat of positive deviance. It is 4X more important than….

Your title

What you Know

I want to encourage you to watch this short video on positive energy and see for yourself. A key way that I teach this to leaders is to “call people up, not call people out”

When you call people up, people will leave energized, knowing that you are “for them”

Calling people out shuts them down and zaps energy.

Becoming a positively deviant leader begins with a commitment to cultivating positive energy. Start this week by calling your team up to their next level and watch what happens.