Positive Intelligence: Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential

Hello,

A few months ago I read “Positive Intelligence: why only 20% of teams and individuals archive their true potential” by Shirzad Chamine. It really impacted me in the way to see my life, and I decided to put it into practice in my life, with my family and I also applied it to my work as a coach.

Is your mind regularly on your side, lifting you up and helping you make the most of what you have got?  Or is your mind regularly making you anxious, keeping you up at night, judging you, and wearing you down?

Positivity is a powerful skill that you are able to build, if you can exercise the right muscles of your mind. According to the book, it seems that our mind needs to go to the ‘gym’ and it is true.

Your Positive Intelligence Quotient (PQ) is a measure of what percentage of time your mind is on your side. Positive Intelligence might be one of the biggest factors for reaching your potential.  When your mind is on your side, you flourish.  When your mind works against you; you flounder.

In the book, the author shares compelling reasons for focusing on, measuring, and improving your Positive Intelligence. He also points out how the science can help you to be a winner at the game of life.

Positive Intelligence

Positive Intelligence is an indication of how well your mind acts in your best interest. The author writes:

“As I’ve already suggested, your mind is your best friend, but it is also your worst enemy. Positive Intelligence is the relative strength of these two modes of your mind. High Positive Intelligence means your mind acts as your friend far more than as your enemy. Low Positive Intelligence is the reverse. Positive Intelligence is therefore an indication of the control you have over your own mind and how well your mind acts in your best interest.”

Saboteurs

Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is a saboteur. As a rule, saboteurs try to conceal their identities because of the consequences of their actions.

In the book, you will see how saboteurs try to put our mind against us. They acts as our enemies. Who are these “guys” trying to play with our minds? Here is the list of our enemies:

• The “Judge”
• The “Avoider”
• The “Stickler”
• The “Hyper-vigilant”
• The “Restless”
• The “Hyper-achiever”
• The “Victim”
• The “Pleaser”
• The “Controller”
• The “Hyper-rational”

Did you recognize them? I was able to recognize a few of them playing with my mind quite often. They are in our mind for sure, waiting to jump at every situation. Also in our mind is the solution to avoid them.

Sages

The sage represents the deeper and wiser part of you. It is the part that can rise above the fray and resist getting carried away by the drama and tension of the moment or falling victim to the lies of the saboteurs.

Who are these “guys” ready to help us? Our list of sages:

• Activate
• Navigate
• Explore
• Innovate
• Empathize

Now, you know our enemies and who are ready to help us in our fights. However, we need to practice the “war” and learn how to move our pieces.  The author proposes very simply, 3-steps to help us with this:

• Weaken Our Saboteurs
• Strengthen Our Sage
• Strengthen The PQ Brain

As an Agile Coach, and in combination with Co-active Coaching, I found this technique to be very helpful.

Do you detect your saboteurs during your working day? What do you do at that moment?

Thank you,

Omar