What are you walking into the room with?

In a study done by two psychologists in November it was hypothesized that "the psychological states individuals bring into newly formed groups can produce meaningful differences in status attainment." The tests conducted studied the effects of triggering three approach-based psychological states: promotion focus (defined as a focus on aspirations and goals), happiness, and a feeling of power.
In other words, what mindset did you walk into the room with?

The side of the brain activated by thinking certain ways resulted in neurological, hormonal, and psychological effects that lead to behavioral changes: "For example, people primed to feel powerful are more likely to take action such as turning off an annoying fan, while those primed to focus on promotion and happiness offer more ideas in brainstorming and guessing tasks. In our studies, we wanted to know whether these mind-sets would make people more proactive—and thus boost their status—in live, face-to-face group interactions."

The effects were clear. People made to feel promotion-focused, powerful, or happy before the group task behaved more proactively and achieved significantly higher status than those in other states. For example, in one experiment, 60% of those primed with an approach orientation were described by at least one teammate as the “leader of the group”—nearly double the rate expected by chance. 

The researchers concluded "it’s pretty easy to push yourself into the kind of proactivity that marks you as a person worthy of respect—someone others want to follow."
Further testing showed "the temporary mind-set that you bring to an initial group meeting can have a lasting impact on your status and influence with your teammates."

But what if you made the decision before you entered the team or group meeting room to be the most servant-like? The most humble? Listen more than anyone else? Be the most encouraging?

Read the full study here.