From the early age of one or two years old, young children begin to copy other peoples’ behaviour. Over the next few years, these children will begin to take on behaviours and gain a sense of self and follow through on their own ideas. It is during this impressionable time that a positive role model will be able to influence a child’s life and create a foundation for positive and constructive behaviour. Many children become inspired to aim for goals and achieve ambitions which they think are beyond themselves. Here, qualities that are highly valued by business, such as perseverance, strong work ethic, determination and pride begin to grow.
In a recent survey, 100% of respondents explained that they have adopted more than one positive or constructive trait from a positive role model. Qualities that were said to be inherited directly from a positive influence included confidence, courage, self-control, sense of responsibility and the ability to prioritize and self-manage. These qualities are extremely valuable to employers because they are qualities that one can only teach to a certain extent. These qualities maximize their potential only when they are adopted by inspiration. Such deeply rooted qualities make up the content of ones character and are strong and constructive traits. Since employees are a company’s most valuable resource, the quality of this resource will play a dominant factor in how successful a business can become.
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of positive role models is that they are able to reproduce themselves in the sense that the defining qualities of the role models transfer themselves into new hosts via adopted behaviours. Since these traits cause one to act or behave in a certain manner, positive role models could be interpreted as a source of renewable energy. This process becomes a pattern, where the new host refines and displays the inherited qualities that in turn inspire others, further spreading the influence. This process is recognized as being so significant and vital to society in general that many organizations’ sole purpose is to bring forth and refine these qualities. The University of Ottawa is a great example of such an organization.
If a business is able to fully comprehend how positive role models are created and how they can reproduce themselves, it can, if carefully managed, harness this power for their own purpose. The beginning of the positive role model cycle explains that certain behaviours arise from specific needs. The key here is to create an environment where a need can become satisfied if certain behaviour is presented. Once the behaviour is presented, it is to be glorified and rewarded accordingly. This will in effect inspire others to adopt similar behaviours; the cycle of the positive role model begins. If this environment is properly managed, it can be used as a system that creates positive role models that demonstrate values, ways of thinking and acting that are in accordance with a business’s vision and purpose.
The influence of positive role models on business is one that is invaluable. Positive role models are a unique form of energy for businesses because they are able to motivate and inspire workers to perform at a level would otherwise seem beyond themselves. Most notably, this source of energy is able to reproduce itself in the sense that the traits that make up a positive role model are contagious, and pass along from person to person in the right environment. Using this knowledge, a business should be able to create this environment and use the concept of positive influence to guide the direction of its employees in the direction its vision and purpose dictates. The central theme of this blog will hopefully inspire original thought in the reader about how positive role models not only affect themselves and those around them, but how business models and certain situations can benefit from the concept of positive influence.
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