Positive Intelligence and Identifying Your Saboteurs
What is Positive Intelligence?
Positive Intelligence is the concept of building mental fitness to increase one’s capacity for positivity, resilience, and effective decision-making. It involves identifying and quieting your “saboteurs” – those negative inner voices or thought patterns that undermine your confidence, decision-making, and well-being. For headteachers, learning to identify and manage these saboteurs can lead to more effective, compassionate, and resilient leadership.
Why is it Important?
Understanding and managing your saboteurs is crucial because:
1. It allows you to approach challenges with a positive, solution-oriented mindset.
2. It reduces the impact of self-doubt, fear, and stress on your leadership effectiveness.
3. It fosters a growth mindset, enabling you to model resilience and optimism for your staff and students.
How to Identify and Manage Your Saboteurs
1. Saboteur Quiz: Take a Positive Intelligence Saboteur Assessment to identify your inner saboteurs, such as the “Controller” or “Judge.”
2. Mindful Recognition: When you notice self-critical thoughts, pause and identify which saboteur is speaking. Simply recognising this voice can reduce its power over you.
3. Shift to “Sage” Mode: Use simple grounding techniques like deep breathing or visualisation to activate your positive, solution-focused “Sage” brain.
Key Strategies for Building Positive Intelligence
– Mental Reps: Practise “PQ reps” (Positive Intelligence Quotient reps), short mental exercises that shift your focus to the present moment, helping you remain calm under stress.
– Reframe Challenges: Use saboteurs as a signal to reframe the situation, focusing on what can be learned or gained rather than what is lost.
– Daily Reflections: Journal about when your saboteurs show up during the day and reflect on ways you can respond more positively next time.
– Book in a coaching package and ask your coach to focus on identifying your saboteurs
Key Questions to Reflect On
– Which saboteurs are most prevalent in my thoughts, and how do they affect my leadership?
– How can I strengthen my Sage brain to cultivate a more positive outlook?
– What impact could reducing saboteurs have on my team and school environment?
Relevant Research
– Research by Shirzad Chamine, the founder of Positive Intelligence, shows that increasing mental fitness through PQ reps significantly reduces stress and improves performance.
– Studies on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) support the effectiveness of identifying and reframing negative thoughts to boost mental resilience.