Call It Out for Good

There is something about a team goal that brings everyone together. When I

played water polo, we would all congratulate not only the goal scorer but the players who contributed to the final result. The goal is easily celebrated because it is easily seen.

However, sometimes we miss the little things that contribute to the end goal. It is the small but significant actions of many that allow success to be celebrated by all.

As humans we seem to register the negatives more often than the positives. Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson’s research of the positivity ratio of 3 to 1, giving 3 positives to 1 negative, is the tipping point for flourishing.

The more people flourishing the more success for all.

Recently I was sitting with a school’s leadership team at our data review meeting. We were celebrating the school’s longitudinal culture results. In two years, the score had moved from the middle quartile to the top quartile.

As the team discussed the areas of impact and the areas for improvement, I paused and reflected on our journey. I interjected and praised them for their past efforts. Praised each one for their past contribution. Praised each one for shifting their mindset. And praised each one for using more positive language and less negative talk.

“Calling it out for good” is part of building a positive culture. Shifting the school’s culture towards a positive culture was a combined, agreed effort by everyone. The leadership team knew they were part of the solution and made the necessary mindset shifts by simply “Calling it out for good.”

One of the strategies was to increase the Positivity Ratio. This helped in changing the culture from toxic to thriving.

What are the small things you are doing to shift the culture?