Years ago I read the best-selling book How Full is Your Bucket (Rath & Clifton, 2004) which speaks to strategies to increase positive emotions and how positive emotions may impact productivity. The premise of the book is that our lives are shaped by our interactions with others and those interactions are typically positive or negative. This book studies the impact of positive interactions on our emotions.
The concept of the book is that we “each have an invisible bucket, which is constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it’s empty, we feel awful.” (Rath & Clifton, 2004, p. 15)
Rath and Clifton (2004) suggest that a full bucket gives us a positive outlook and renewed energy, and makes us stronger and more optimistic. And an empty bucket poisons our outlook and undermines our will. Studies show that leaders that share positive emotions with their team, or fill their team’s buckets have a team with a more positive outlook, improved engagement, and improved team performance.
When someone fills your bucket, except it and fill their bucket in return by saying “thank you”. Clifton and Roth (2004) suggest that people that are constantly dipping into our bucket, and draining our energy. So we should strive to engage with people that offer us positive energy and fill our bucket.
Bucket fillers say and do things to increase others positive emotions and also fill their own bucket. Bucket dippers, say and do things that decrease others positive emotions. A full bucket makes us stronger and more optimistic. Every time someone dips in our bucket it could potentially hurt us emotionally.
Over the years this book has caused me to carefully assess if I am more of a bucket filler or a bucket dipper? I am proud to say that I feel I am a bucket filler, successful at positively impacting others’ emotions. Some of my key bucket filling behaviors include helping others when I can; being courteous; praising others often; telling others I care; becoming more closely acquainted with others; listening to others as they talk through their stories, goals and ambitions; making unhappy people laugh; calling others by their names; and smiling when I meet other people (actually smiling ALL THE TIME).
Clifton and Roth (2004) offer a list of bucket filling interview questions that are positive in nature and can be used to positively impact other’s emotions. These seven questions offer me positive interview questions to ask others and help to fill their bucket. Leaders should consider going on a diet consisting of more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and striving to be bucket fillers.
Rath, T., & Clifton, D. O. (2004). How full is your bucket. Gallup Press. ISBN: 1-59562-003-6