The Leadership Virus: Inspire, Influence, and Infect People with Energy and Enthusiasm

By James Bird Guess

Do you arrive at work in a good mood, but that mood quickly changes into frustration, combativeness, resentment, or even anger? That's a good indication that someone or something negative in your work environment is
contagious.
Whether it's managing up to your boss and other authority figures, or working to influence unmotivated and negative co-workers, this book will help you gain an in-depth perspective on what makes people tick and how to get desired results regardless of your title or level of authority. You'll learn you can't change people, but you can change how they respond to you. Be a virus and infect them!
Best-selling author and sought-after management consultant James Bird Guess prescribes the most effective vaccine for toxic workplaces, using practical tools, ideas, and insights from his training and coaching of more than 20,000 supervisors, managers, and senior-level executives in the private and public sectors.
As you become an infectious leader from touching the pages of this book, your symptoms will include:
• Understanding the 3 Types of Employees (Passionate, Paycheck, and Problem)
• Applying the Feedback Filter for Tactful Communication with Co-workers
• Utilizing the Essential Qualities of Infectious Leaders
• Influencing Those Who Do Not Report to You
• Implementing the 5 Keys for Making a Positive Workplace Culture Contagious
• Cultivating Collaboration and Healthy Workplace Interactions
For good or bad, the authentic leaders inside every organization are infectious. Their behaviors tend to be transmitted to their subordinates and
peers, who tend to pass them on to the next level down, and these behaviors begin to infect the entire organization, affecting actions and decisions at every level. Eventually, these behaviors become embedded into the DNA of the organizational culture, influencing the types of employees who get promoted and hired into the organization, and creating a self-reinforcing work environment-either positive or negative, healthy or toxic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Bird Guess
• Release date: Jun 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9780989770927

James Bird Guess

Homeless after high school and at rock bottom of his life, James Bird Guess discovered a success process called Grinding, in which a person creates success using ambition, vision, strategy and perseverance. Starting with only $1,000, poor credit, and a dream to become a millionaire, James single-handedly built a quarter million dollar enterprise selling products from the trunk of his car. Deciding to pursue his passion more than profit, he founded James Bird Guess International Success Academy, a leadership training and research company that trains thousands of managers and business leaders from organizations across the world, with one goal - to inspire the best performance out of people. From homeless to successful boot-strapping entrepreneur, to a world-renowned speaker and trainer, James is also the best-selling author of the book, How I Made a Quarter Million Dollar$ From the Trunk of My Car.

Book preview

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THE LEADERSHIP VIRUS

INSPIRE, INFLUENCE, AND INFECT PEOPLE WITH ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM

JAMES BIRD GUESS

The Leadership Virus

Copyright © 2016 by James Bird Guess International Success Academy LLC. All rights reserved.

First Smashwords Edition: June 2016

ISBN: 978-0-9897709-2-7

Printed in the United States of America

James Bird Guess International Success Academy

391 E. Las Colinas Blvd.

Suite 130-350

Irving, TX 75039

www.internationalsuccessacademy.com

For more information about author appearances or bulk discounts, please visit our website, www.internationalsuccessacademy.com, or e-mail us at [e-mail].

Editor: Jill Becker (www.jillbecker.net)

Cover and formatting: Streetlight Graphics (www.streetlightgraphics.com)

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This publication is designed to provide educational information regarding the subject matter covered. However, it is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering legal, financial, or other professional advice. Laws and practices often vary from state to state and if legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional should be sought. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any liability that is incurred from the use or application of the contents of this book.

There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. That little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.

– Robert Collier

Dedication

For every professional who understands that you don’t need a title to be a leader.

Acknowledgments

GOD!

Introduction:

Be a Virus

There are two types of leaders in every organization. Terminators and motivators. Both have different philosophies on how to influence employees to perform tasks and duties and meet expectations. Terminators use fear and intimidation. Motivators use trust and inspiration. Both methods achieve results, although they differ in their effectiveness. When employees fear you, or are intimidated by you, they will still perform, but out of fear of the possible consequences. You will never get the best performance out of them that way. Instead, you will receive what’s called paycheck performance. They will perform just enough to continue receiving a paycheck. Just enough to get you off their back. They will not take initiative or ownership of tasks. In meetings, they provide minimal to no input, feedback, or ideas. You may say you have an open-door policy, but never do they come through your door. They may be physically present at work every day, but their heart is in another place, and so they withhold their maximum effort out of bitterness and resentment toward you—the terminator.

The motivator is different. Employees are infatuated with your new recognition program, but it grows stale in due time. They were pumped about the team-building retreat, but two weeks later their energy diminished and they were back to just going through the motions. They initially loved the fact that you handed out gift cards to those performers who met specific goals and expectations, but now hardly anyone makes an attempt to meet the criteria. The motivator is dependent on tangible rewards (e.g., bonuses, gift cards, trophies) and sheer determination to obtain the desired staff performance. Employees’ energy and effort levels fluctuate based on the motivation du jour. The motivator is stuck in push-lawnmower mode, which means employees will only move forward if there is some external force behind them constantly pushing them. Once the rewards start, they will start. Once the rewards stop or become stale, they will withhold energy and effort accordingly. Because of the motivator’s high level of determination, he or she continues this tedious activity indefinitely, or until burnout.

Outside of these two styles of leadership exists a rare type of leader. A leader who relies on neither fear or intimidation, nor rewards and determination. Instead of applying external forces to influence people, this leader attaches to employees internally. We call this type of leader the infector, or viral leader, and we call this process infectious leadership.

Like a virus that replicates itself inside the cells of other living organisms, viral leaders are infectious agents who replicate their qualities inside the hearts and minds of their employees. The five qualities that make up a viral leader