What Does it Take to Make a Positive Difference?

A recent article by Kathy Caprino from the Huffington Post resonated very much for me in relation to the strength-focused approaches we use, including Appreciative Inquiry.

She called it 7 Key Behaviors of People Who Make a Positive Difference in the World.

Kathy begins by saying:

Look around you and you’ll see three kinds of people — those who hate their work, and complain bitterly, those who just tolerate their work and see it as a paycheck and aren’t looking for more (or feel they can’t have more), and finally, those who love their work, and relish it. The third category is a small subset of all professionals globally, but this group stands out because these are, most often, the people who change the world for the better.

She goes on to say that, in her encounters with makers, shakers and disruptors and those who shape the world around them in powerful and constructive ways, she has identified seven behaviours that set these people apart from those around them:

1. They dedicate themselves to what gives their life meaning and purpose
2. They commit to continually bettering themselves
3. They engage with people in open, mutually-beneficial ways
4. They invest time and energy not in what is, but what can be
5. They spread what they know
6. They uplift others as they ascend
7. They use their power and influence well

Her full article is worth reading, with its explanation of each of these behaviours.

And I also think this list of seven behaviours is a pretty powerful set of aspirations for life!