![]() ![]() We have all stumbled along the way, but we are always learning. The world has its ways of telling us who's boss. When your back is against the wall, having a number of good ideas to help you get out is useful. Not all of them were commercially successful, but all went toward helping clients through difficult times and became part of our continuous learning culture. We used this time to listen to our clients and our people and the result was a raft of new product launches. When call volumes went down as lockdown began, it was optimism that saw my company through - optimism that we could rise to the challenge and see the opportunities in the difficulty. Just out of interest, how many times have you used the word "but" already today? Adapt your outlook and examine the language you use. To stay optimistic and effective as a leader, limit your time with naysayers. Even the most positive of us have moments of uncertainty - we are only human, after all. Similarly, while we can learn from negative viewpoints, be careful whom you listen to. That is not to say you ignore what you cannot change acknowledge it but do not let it divert your attention. ![]() Then identify what you can change and proactively going forward, focusing on what you do well. Think about sharing those out-of-the-box thoughts and cultivating spontaneity. ![]() It means looking at a situation from all angles and being open to alternative ideas. It is about making optimism routine, integrating it into the very DNA of your organization, measuring it, rewarding it and celebrating success.Īs a leader, cultivating optimism also means embracing multiple, diverse perspectives, including both the pessimistic and the optimistic. Fostering a positive and optimistic culture begins with connecting, first as a leader with your people, then connecting your people with your business. Extolling the virtues in this article is a pointless exercise unless I engage with my people directly to facilitate positivity and a safe environment. Optimistic leaders empower their businesses and their people by walking the walk. For some, it comes naturally, but the good news is that optimism can be mastered by anyone. There is a debate over whether optimism can be learned - nurture versus nature. Work on balancing optimism with a realistic assessment of the situation in order to create a way forward. Unrealistic optimism, simply believing that things will turn out all right in the end, is not the kind you want to foster. Of course, there is such a thing as unhelpful optimism. An optimistic leader is one who is willing to take a calculated risk to reach the right outcome. I’ve written about believing in yourself and the importance of making mistakes, and yes, there is always an element of trusting your gut, but you must also be realistic. In doing so, you show that there is a way through the current situation, motivating people to make plans and drive forward. Tell positive, balanced stories: Be open about bad news and counter it with good news. ![]()
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