Breathing Oxygen
Book

Breathing Oxygen

How Positive Leadership Gives Life to Winning Cultures

Jason Barger
Amplify, 2022
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Concrete Examples
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

Leaders must always be conscious, metaphorically, of the quality of the air they and their teams breathe in and out. Think of this air as your organization’s culture, its prevailing ideas and mindsets. Is the “air” in your workplace healthy or polluted? Does it build up your employees or break them down? Consultant and author Jason V. Barger urges leaders to build their mindset and culture around six foundational attributes: “clarity, inclusivity, agility, grit, rest and ownership.” Leaders who focus on these priorities can be the breath of fresh air their people and their organization need.

Summary

Working in a culture with a bad mindset is as damaging as breathing bad air.  

Bad air will make you feel ill, deplete your energy, deflate your performance, and undermine you and everything you say and do. To feel good, you need fresh, clean air – not polluted, toxic air. Just as people and teams need breathable air, they need a positive, productive and healthy mindset.

The best team leaders and their  teams cultivate a state of mind and a culture that feeds “energy, possibility, connection and progress.” Such teams do not traffic in toxins like blame and negativity. They embrace positivity and beneficial change to make the air better for themselves and everyone around them. Having a positive or growth mindset puts you and your team in a better position to align your actions with your vision and values. To spark team positivity, share relatable stories and messages that will boost your team members’ vision, adaptability and sense of belonging.

Productive leaders and their teams need six mindsets: “Clarity, inclusivity, agility, grit, rest and ownership.”

These six cultural...

About the Author

Consultant Jason V. Barger is also the author of Thermostat Cultures, Step Back from the Baggage Claim and ReMember. The founder of Step Back Leadership LLC, he is a  frequent keynote speaker on leadership, values and vision.

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