Choose Assets Over Deficits
You see what’s bad before you see what’s good.
Kathy Cramer told me our negativity bias invites us to see and respond more intensely to problems than possibilities.
Every time I step back and look at teams and projects, I look for what’s wrong.
I’m always in fix and prevent mode. Research indicates we spend 80% of our time on the alert for what isn’t working. Thankfully, my negative focus is natural. That makes me feel better.
You naturally see what’s wrong.
You teach yourself to maximize what’s right.
I force myself to see what’s working, but it’s like pulling teeth. Kathy Cramer offers alternatives to negativity bias in, “Lead Positive.”
ABT
“Asset-based thinking (ABT) means to look at yourself and the world through the eyes of what is working, what strengths are present, and what the potentials are.” – Lead Positive
ABT is more than pie-in-the-sky pretending. It’s a decision to identify and maximize what’s good, right, powerful, and effective.
ABT isn’t ignoring problems. It’s addressing them from an asset orientation rather than deficit.
Birth of Asset-based thinking:
Kathy Cramer was born with a cleft lip and palate. In her own words (2:18):
Asset-based leadership:
Do you believe deficit-based or asset-based thinkers create the future?
It seems obvious that leaders who focus on assets reach higher than those who focus on deficits. Use your assets as a platform for future achievement.
What would change about your leadership if you chose an asset-based approach?
What’s uncomfortable about focusing on assets?
We’re giving away 25 copies of Kathy’s book, “Lead Positive.” Leave a comment on *** yesterday’s post *** to become eligible.
I am already an oxytocin generating machine, so already look for positive. It is EVERYWHERE!!!!!
What is uncomfortable in my opinion based on my experience is called a spiritual malady.
When one is taught in error from the start they grow from there based in fear and not knowing who they are. Then when they explore they are told, “NO”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They do not know who they are, who Gods other kids are and no understanding of who God is. A really cool perspective if anyone is interested is in a book called Sermon On The Mount by Emmett Fox. What a wonderful perspective on The Lords Prayer.
I Highly Recommend it to everyone especially those with really screwed up thinking!!!! And OF COURSE they are the last ones who are gonna read it and relieve themselves of their useless negative thought systems. Oh the HUMANITY!!!!!!!! LOL
Just check how wonderfully imaginative children are and how completely closed off they are as adults. The only thing these poor souls will allow themselves to hear see and think is only what they have decided makes sense. Everything else threatens, such a sad waste of God’s amazing machinery!!!!.
Odd thing is you point it out and they will literally defend their screwy close-minded thinking to the death! Just go ask a fanatic in any Supremacy thinking group. Anything “different” really scares these folks.
So built on negative, in error, from the start going positive seems foreign.
No biggie it is all gonna work out. Just go into a dark room with a handful of light in your hand, throw it up when you enter the room. What happens????? Dark scatters!!!!!!
Then do the opposite, go into a room full of light and cup your hands to create a little darkness….release the HOUNDS!!!!!!! LOL
What happens????? NOTHING GRASSHOPPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is ALL COOL, we are on the right side and it is all gonna be alright!
Want to check out something POSITIVE and cool???? Wonder how many will????? LOL
Check out the Wahl Protocal. All this Doctor did was reverse her MS.
I am just gonna sign off with this saying it once today…….what you choose to eat has MUCH more to do with your mindset and health than you have ever been taught. Want proof, check out Dr Wahl.
SP
EA
Thanks Scott. I hardly know what to say. I’d say have a good week but it seems that’s totally unnecessary.
Asset Based Trainining is vital in todays market with fierce competition and technology. Team members will become more productive and appreciated with this synergistic approach.
Research shows that the number one reason people leave a company is not money, or overall environment, but lack of appreciation. People will feel appreciated with ABT for numerous reasons.
They are as follows: Better Attitudes which reflects performance and productivity. Commitment, culture and consistsncy. Team members want to know othet leaders care.
As a result they will be loyal and this will decrease high turnover ratios for employers.
Thanks Demetrius. You’re pointing out a main benefit of ABT…it changes the culture around us. Leaders who focus on and talk about negative build negative environments. What a change if teams focused more on leveraging strengths than fixing weaknesses.
Thanks Dan. I would like to network with yoh and bounce ideas. I am currently writing my first self help book and would be honored to give you an exclusive spot in the book. Thanks.
Demetriuskilgore@ gmail.com
Asset-based leadership (ABL) is challenging because of our fixed mindsets. We grow up becoming programmed to look for what is wrong. Leaders have been taught this way through personal experience, education, and mentoring. Simply by observing others and learning that managers need to diagnos problems and develop solutions for corrective action, places us in this fixed mindset.
To break this cycle, Carolyn Dwek has done some amazing research described in her book titled Mindset. She describes how to identify when we fall into the fixed mindset and to alter our thinking. The open mindset does not mean that everything is coming up roses and we overlook the negative; it trains leaders to identify the issues and problem solve with a different lens.
When I first heard of Carolyn’s work I was cautiously optimistic. After reading the book and identifying when the trained bad habits come to the forefront, my outlook and leadership style has changed to more of a Asset-based leadership style.
Thanks Belmont…. It’s a pleasure reading your story. As your approach spreads you can’t help believe education gets better.
You make me believe a fixed mindset can transformed. cheers
Thank you for this.
Jay Barney’s resource-based model of a successful firm speaks of VRIO, assets that are Valuable, Rare, hard to Imitate, and supported by the Organization. Barney, Jay (2010). Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage, 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Prentice Hall.
Firms whose organizations support their Valuable, Rare, and hard-to-Imitate assets enjoy sustained long-term above-average economic benefits. I find this model more useful for analyzing what to do and where to go as Porter’s Five Forces, which are based on threats. Although knowledge of threats can show what to avoid, it doesn’t show where to go.
Defensive hockey can make for a low-scoring game, but only a good offense can score goals. Excellent pitching and fielding can frustrate an opponent in baseball, but with no hits and runs, one cannot win a game. The essence of increasing the worth of VRI assets is organizational leadership focused on making them prosper.
In a like manner, I believe the Creator has bestowed upon all of us a whole bunch of gifts and resources. Some receive more than others, but all have received something. Like the parable of the talents, each of us needs to live our lives as stewards of the assets we’ve received. Most of us North Americans have only known peace, freedom, plenty of food and warmth, access to education, and more that most of the world only dreams of. Many of us have good health, loving families, and great opportunity. We can either make the VRI gifts we receive flourish or not. We all will be measured. It will be good to not be found wanting, but hear the warmth of the Master’s praise.
As organizational leaders, whether at the bottom, middle, or top of the group, our focus should be on the organization’s mission. We need to be aware of dangers in order to avoid them, but not focus on them. Nobody climbed a mountain by focusing on the height of the cliff below them. Mastery requires vanquishing the danger, but focusing on the goal.
Thanks Marc. Great comments just keep rolling in.
Playing defense is an interesting and useful analogy. Defense is important and necessary. But, you still have to put the ball in the hoop or through the uprights.
Cheers
Intrigued by the idea of Asset-based Thinking. Would like to understand ABT and the concept of Asset-based leadership more fully.
Thanks David. Please be sure to leave a comment on yesterday’s post for a chance to win the book.
The concept is spot on! With ABT we think about the bigger picture as assets (usually high value) items both physically and mentally. This natually places us in a positive frame.
The comparison is to be lost in the day to day “Operational world” with its problems and difficulties. With ABT we naturally see the real potential.
Thanks Ian. I hadn’t thought about the big picture vs short-term view point. Solving problems is often short-term. I love the idea that the ABT helps us rise up to see the big picture.
Great Article!
Thanks!
it seems on the cover that ABT is sort of like positive thinking optimism but if you take a closer look its more than that it’s looking at problems from the positive aspects focusing on what you have to help solve the problem rather than how you actually got into trouble in the the first place.
I know this will change the way I approach interactions in the future.
Thanks Kelly. I’m glad you make the distinction. I’m not a fan of making up positive fabrications to make myself feel better. But, leaders face the brutal facts optimistically…we can make things better. I find that ABT is a useful tool.
Feed positive energy into a system, reap positive benefits.
Good one! Thanks Suzette.
I love the comment – “ABT isn’t ignoring problems. It’s addressing them from an asset orientation rather than deficit.
This comment resonates so well for me. I have been working with my son, who being born with severe, severe bilateral club feet, had many, many, many surgeries with Shriner’s Hospital (a great place!!), and decided to have double Symes amputations in 2011. He is still transitioning, and had to have surgy on both stumps this year, but he is an example of not ignoring his birh defect, and walking problems, but he addresses that as an asset by helping others overcome their problems or by educating those without physical handicaps that it is just ok to talk about them, laugh about them and explore how the handicap can become and asset. Thanks for the commonality. Thank you.
Thanks Susan. You honor us with your story. You lift me. Best wishes for the journey and best to your son.
I agree that in general too much time is spent fixing negatives than amplifying positives. Swot (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, thrats)analysis takes a balanced view. I had been previously unaware of BAE ABT does it totally ignore negatives?
Thanks David. Any system that ignores negatives is a bad one. 🙂 It’s more about the attitude we have when facing negatives. And, for me, it’s shifting toward asset based thinking on a daily basis. My goal is building a positive environment where people courageously move forward. But, any leader who ignores problems is bound to lose.
I believe there is a danger of ABT to fall under hindsight bias. Other than that I would take anything to avoid making Type II err.
Thanks jagawins. So glad you brought your perspective to the conversation. I hadn’t thought of hind-sight bias in this context. Something to consider. Cheers
Good morning Dan
When you look at the world through the eye’s of negativity, negativity is all you will see. Yes our world is full of both good and bad. Positivity breeds positivity. Emotions are alot like a virus, thier contagious and they all come with infectious symptoms. (Question) “If you were to ‘infect’ someone, would they be overcome with negativity, or positivity”?
Cheers Dan
Thanks SGT. Love the virus question. How can we infect others? There’s something fun about the negative term “infection” and the inclusion of positivity.
How timely! I was just talking about this on Friday with my Supervisor. I’m looking forward to reading this book. Great post!
Thanks Renee. Best wishes as you move forward.
I totaly agree with this thinking and I add that loving someone, or caring for a project, or expressing “grace” to someone with feedback, are quite on the same line. love it, given enough time it will attract more people in need, who will follow(and teach you)
Thanks Tazio. Fascinating comment. The compassion side of life is so powerful.
I fall into that category that concentrates on what or who isn’t working versus on what or who is working good. I am not sure how to change my attitude except to ask and hope someone will help.
I read somewhere where it said, we should have good news such as “There are over 7 billion people that are still alive today.” or “Hundreds of planes took off and landed safely”
Why we don’t we hear that? Its time for a change I say.
Tackle everything you do with vigour doing your best for maximum positive results. By keeping all negativity as challenges to solve, use that potential energy to create positive results, be it in a conversation or a task. Consider any video game – there are always challenges to overcome. We seek solutions along we advance in the game. Similarly, channel energy towards positive outcomes with the resources available. The negativity eventually evaporates leaving us positive results for all to enjoy.
Eugene Korneluk
You are right – we all have a tendency to look for deficits, and this is why our newspapers are full of disaster stories as well.
At least, this is the case in India
I’m definitely asset-based. I think each team should have a little of both, so if the leader is deficit-based, the team should have an asset-based member as well.
Diana
I’ve always been a Pie in the sky leader but imagine how efective I can be if I hone that approach with Asset Based Thinking! I can regain time and energy by letting the deficit thinkers deal with their issues. I expect some might consider ABT as ignoring what’s wrong but through positive reinforcement of ABT we can hopefully change that perspective so others can see problems to be dealt with as new improvement opportunities to strengthen our assets.
Thanks for another thought-provoking post, Dan, not to mention a timely reminder. I first adopted an ABT approach to (life) management about three years ago. The positive changes across all aspects of my life over the ensuing two years was nothing short of remarkable. Even more remarkable was how quickly a life crisis abruptly knocked me back into the comfort of old, entrenched habits about six months ago. Having taken some time to regroup, I now take comfort in knowing from first-hand experience that ABT will work its “magic” again as I rebuild. … On another somewhat more personal note, I’d like to thank you. Your posts are among the touchpoints I’ve claimed as I struggled to hang onto healthy perspective as they so frequently resonate with clarity and wisdom.
I like the article, personally working with some people who are not identified with the company. Criticizing and start seeing how bad the other team. I reading your article, I think the greatest asset of a company is its people, therefore we must recognize their effort to achieve identification. Both models, ABT and ABL are good, I think the model that involves the leader should be more efficient, because it’s personalized.
Thank you Dan,
This book is written by a woman who leads with grace and integrity. She embodies ABT and I am sure she fought to build this muscle. Which is why she wrote something beautiful about how we do have to work out our positive “rubber tree plant” mindset on a daily basis in words and actions.
I will be delighted to read this book and thank Kathy for her leadership and words of wisdom.
Very interesting way of thinking. I certainly do the natural thing, but never realized it.
These concepts spark my thoughts to “the green line” and what is above and below it. I think the concept that as a leader you have a choice where to focus your energy is very empowering. The thinking articulate also aligns with my thoughts regarding the importance of social capital and diffusion of innovation theory. The graphic included with this article is gold and very true in the schools that I have worked in. Key to successful change is giving voice to the positives.