-1 0 +1

When we get in a new situation or even an existing situation that we are familiar with we are looked at in one of three ways. The first is minus one.  This is someone who is actively harmful to the situation.  An example would be sitting in a meeting at work trying to resolve a problem and all the person does is try to disrupt the meeting  without adding solutions to the problem.

The second is zero; your impact is neutral and does not impact the situation either positively or negatively.  For many this may happen when you are in learning mode.  You sit back, listen and learn.

The third is a plus one.  Someone who actively adds value.  Most people want to be a plus one or perceive themselves to be a plus one.  But it is mostly from your actions whether you are a plus one.

I think it is reasonable to not want to be a minus 1.  This is the person who is disruptive for no other reason other than to  be disruptive.  They have no thoughts of making things better only to cause disruptions.  We all know this type of person.  The sad part is this person many times thinks they are a plus 1.  It is the perception of the people around you that determine which type you are.

Now being a zero in many situations is not a bad thing but it is important to understand that in a learning mode this is ok but in others it can be harmful.  Just for an example if a you see a puppy in a busy street and you sit and watch this is a zero.  However, I think, we can agree that this is not a learning situation and the course of action would be to get the puppy and remove it from a harmful situation. 

Many times the plus 1 type is not the one talking or trying to say the most.  Many times the person that is doing.  Their actions determine that they are a plus 1.  I am sure we can all think of examples of people who are plus 1.  They lead by their actions not their words.  In my case, I have always looked to my parents.  They were always the plus 1 people I had in my life.  I never realized it but watching them as a young person I never tied together their work in the community to the good they were doing.  To this day I attribute all the volunteering I do to simply watching what they did. 

It is Chris Hadfield in his book "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth" that wrote about this concept of Minus 1 Zero and Plus 1.  I have spent the last week at work and in other surrounds looking at people and how they interact and have seen this concept in action.  

What I have to focus on is am I being a plus 1 when I need to be..............