If optimism is the hallmark of a leader, then the simple stories and steps inside this book provide strategies for enriching the discipline. As leadership provides vision for a better tomorrow, enduring positivity is required.
Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton have outlined a simple plan for creating more positivity in your work and life. The authors use the metaphor of a dipper and bucket to describe interactions with others. A full bucket makes you feel great, and an empty bucket makes you feel lousy. Everyone has both a bucket and a dipper. By saying and doing things that create positive emotions, you fill up buckets and by receiving positive remarks and actions from others, your bucket is filled.
The book provides support for the theory of “filling buckets” through 50 years of research showing us that every interaction (negative or positive) can have a major impact on your productivity, health, relationships, satisfaction, and self-worth. The conclusion then is that we must look for ways to find what is right with people; we must fill up other peoples bucket.
The book outlines 5 key steps to increase positivity in your work and life:
- Prevent Bucket Dipping (To increase positivity, reduce your own negativity)
- Shine a light on what is right (Look for ways to catch people doing something right)
- Make best friends (You will need them and they will need you for support)
- Give unexpectedly (Can be something that is intangible)
- Reverse the Golden Rule (Individualize the Golden Rule to the person)
I encourage you to read this book.
Will it change your life?
No book can do that on its own. The book only describes an ideal; you have to do something:
+ The world could be better if everyone read this book AND followed its counsel
+ Take the Positive Impact Test online: www.bucketbook.com
+ Purchase at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595620036
+ Most importantly, Start Filling Buckets Today!
June 19, 2009 at 9:05 pm
This is an extremely powerful, yet simple book, that made me realize the impact I have on other people, and what impact others can have on me. A great message!
June 19, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Thanks for the comment. I really enjoyed it as well….I plan to read it every once in while to remind me that every interaction is a give and take moment…. Thanks!