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Keeping a Positive Outlook

Guest post by: Robert Whipple

Article Overview: The best leaders are able to weather most storms and keep a positive outlook. This is a challenge as some of the pressures can be staggering. This article deals with the subject of outlook and how leaders can hone this trait.

Keeping a Positive Outlook

Exceptional leaders constantly display a positive outlook with incredible energy and drive. They may get angry or energized, but they are rarely depressed because there is no time for it. They are too busy making lemonade out of the lemons they encounter. It almost seems like a game as these people absorb tremendous setbacks and just reset the course to be successful anyway. The great marketing guru, Ted Nicholas, admits he has more failures in his advertisements than successes. Whenever one fails, rather than get discouraged, he simply says "next," and generates another try for success. Though his batting average is below 500, he has enough "at bats" to hit plenty of home runs.

There is an infectious enthusiasm for the vision of a true leader. Because this vision is rooted in core values and describes a pathway toward an exciting future, people identify with it and climb aboard emotionally. The leader's vision is so compelling that it surfaces in every speech or conversation. Every decision supports his vision. This is why people rally behind him. The vision is positive and compelling. Warren Bennis in "Managing People is like Herding Cats" said, "Almost all leaders are purveyors of hope. Their optimism fascinates me because it is so pervasive and so powerful. I don't think it can be built on phony grounds either."

Good leaders have a Pollyanna approach to adversity. As problems arise, they are promptly put in the "challenges to overcome" category, just another mountain to climb on the way to the vision. If carried to extreme, this can annoy some people who have a need to worry (or, as they would describe it, "the need to be more realistic.") They want to stew over the "what ifs" that loom on the horizon, but the leader takes them in stride as a normal part of risk management. There is a strong belief in the team and its ability to charge through any obstacle. Don't assume everyone else shares your optimism. It is healthy to have different levels of worry in an organization. This diversity creates a balance allowing high momentum with the right mix of caution and preventive damage control.

All groups tend to vent at times. It is human nature to complain about conditions, deadlines, bureaucracy, budgets, resources, etc. Some groups are world-class at venting. If there is a 2-hour meeting, you can count on more than 100 minutes of griping and venting. That's a bad habit found in groups at all levels and disciplines.

Great leaders put a stop-loss on the bitching. They allow a certain amount to bleed off pressure, but then refocus the dialog along more constructive lines. Rather than focus on what is wrong, they prefer to spend time on what needs to be done now. Lou Holtz said, in his famous video titled "Do Right," "You just have to focus on what's important now. The rest will take care of itself."

One trick is to set a time limit for venting. If people are stressed out and need to complain, allow five minutes for it, then move to more constructive dialog. This simple technique saves hours of unconstructive griping. Another idea is to have a pot of money in the room. If someone gets caught bitching without a constructive suggestion, they have to put a dollar in the pot. This is funny at first, but after people have to get change for a $20 bill, they quit venting. Making a decision to move groups quickly from venting to constructive ideas is a hallmark of good leadership.

Optimism carries more energy than pessimism, and energy is needed to scramble after tough goals. Become a role model for keeping groups from despair. Take the high road whenever you can and, if someone accuses you of wearing rose colored glasses, just say, "Thank you - the world is a much more enjoyable place with them." Carried to an extreme, it can become a problem, but for most people, a shift toward a more optimistic outlook will improve their leadership.

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Article Tags: enthusiasm, Leadership, outlook, positive, trust



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