Over the last year spent working with brilliant startup CEOs and executives, we at Mindmaven have been developing a powerful leadership tactic we’re calling Positive Alacrity.
What Is Positive Alacrity?
Positive Alacrity is the skill of consistently delivering micro-experiences that have a profoundly uplifting impact on the people we interact with.
It’s a simple, scalable habit that—when practiced regularly—has the power to transform how people experience you as a leader.
As simple as it sounds, we’ve seen people achieve powerful (even life-changing) results with an incredibly small investment (just a few seconds each day). For example, some of the startup leaders we’ve worked with have reported …
- Improved reputation as a leader (often resulting in lower attrition rates),
- Lessened CEO loneliness due to a greater sense of connection to the company as a whole, and
- Direct influence over one’s company culture through the ability to lead by example.
In leadership, Positive Alacrity is one of the fastest ways to build trust, deepen relationships, and shape culture—without needing hours of extra time or emotional labor. Just a few seconds of intention can make a powerful impression.
Examples of Positive Alacrity: Leadership Tactics for CEOs
Here are a few ways Positive Alacrity shows up in action.
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The Thoughtful Follow-Up
After a 1:1 with a team member, your Engagement Manager drafts a short message for you:
“Hey Jamie, I really appreciated the vulnerability you shared in our chat today. It’s people like you who shape the heart of our culture.”
You review it, press send, and make their week. -
A Timely Personal Acknowledgment
You hear that someone on your product team worked late to resolve a last-minute bug. Instead of letting it go unnoticed, you send:
“I heard about your late-night push to get that release out. Just wanted to say thank you—you really went above and beyond.” -
Celebrating Life Beyond Work
You learn that a client has just welcomed a baby. Your Engagement Manager helps you send a personal message:
“Huge congrats on the new arrival! Hope you’re soaking up every minute. Wishing your family all the joy in the world.”
Each of these moments takes under a minute, but they leave a lasting impact.
Why Positive Alacrity Works When Building Deeper Relationships
Positive Alacrity works because it taps into what makes people feel good: being seen and appreciated. When delivered authentically, it:
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Strengthens emotional connection
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Builds a sense of psychological safety and belonging
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Elevates your reputation as a present, caring leader
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Creates ripple effects that boost team morale and loyalty
In short, you could call Positive Alacrity the #1 shortcut to delivering happiness to others and—in turn—creating a long-lasting sense of fulfillment for yourself. And it all comes down to a single habit.
How to Create a Happier Life and Build Deeper Relationships With Positive Alacrity
Relationship-boosting tactics like Positive Alacrity, when systematized, can become one of the most effective ways to drive culture, loyalty, and long-term executive fulfillment.
Want to learn more? Check out this blog from Mindmaven CEO Patrick Ewers to learn how to live a happier life and build deeper relationships with the help of Positive Alacrity.
And if you’re inspired, but not sure how to implement these executive leadership strategies consistently, that’s where we come in.
At Mindmaven, we help executives make leadership more human and impactful, without adding more to their plates. Through our executive coaching engagement, we show you how to:
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Deliver small, high-impact moments of appreciation that boost morale and deepen trust
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Radically delegate day-to-day tasks to free up 12+ hours per week for more meaningful work and relationships
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Partner with an Engagement Manager who helps you identify, queue, and draft follow-up emails and relationship-boosting engagements, so all you have to do is review and hit send
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Create repeatable systems for building authentic relationships at scale, without sacrificing focus or productivity
If you’d like to learn how to lead with greater impact and influence, let’s talk.
Schedule a free 1:1 call with a Mindmaven coach today.
