The following are a few “personal application ideas” I pulled together in an extensive redesign I have just completed for a practical implementation workbook based on Growing the Distance for my Practical Leadership Strategies for Peak Performance workshop.

Search out/collect stories of inspiring people who have overcome large obstacles in their lives (see examples from Growing the Distance). When you’re facing a big problem or setback, compare it to these stories to reframe your situation and change your perspective.

Do you mostly see the slush on the windshield or the winter wonderland beyond? (see this story from Growing the Distance.) What’s your reality? What would you like your reality to be? When and how are you going to change your perspective?

Ask people who know you well to allocate the percentage of time you spend in Navigator, Survivor, and Victim mode. Ask for their help in identifying Victim Speak in your conversation.

Be a conversation navigator. When the talk is negative, find ways to provide evidence of a more positive perspective, offer alternative solutions or viewpoints, or question the usefulness of using that negative framework.

Are you part of the solution or part of the problem? Are you a reactor or leader? Does your own attitude and do your actions just reflect the temperature of your more senior managers to the people in your part of the organization? Or do you try to readjust and change the temperature? How do you know?