Enhancing Workplace and Productivity through Positivity: An Insight
You Ain't Gonna Believe This, But Optimism Actually Rocks At Work!
Who'da thought a sunny disposition could make a difference at work? Well, think again! Sumit Paul-Choudhury, a physicist, journalist, and author of “The Bright Side: How Optimists Change the World, and How You Can Be One”, argues that optimism is the key to a successful, problem-solving workforce.
What Makes an Optimist?
The optimist pretty much thinks, "Hey, we'll figure this out, things can change, and I'll find a way to a good endgame. I might not end up where I planned, but I'll still find a happy outcome." According to Paul-Choudhury, to be an optimist, all you need is three simple beliefs:
- The future is up for grabs, with possibilities galore.
- Some of those possibilities are positive - for you, your team, your project, and so on.
- You have the power to steer towards those positive possibilities, even if it ain't perfect control. You just need to take action and make the positives more likely than the negatives.
So, if you're feelin' down because you think things are hopeless and there are no solutions to your problems, think again! You're essentially closing the door on all those possibilities. If you don't make an effort to change things, you're just accepting the card you've been dealt.
Why You Want an Optimistic Boss
Optimistic leaders face challenges with a practical, solution-oriented mindset and look forward with confidence. They're the ones who say, "We'll get through this, we know we'll solve our problems."
That's exactly who you wanna work for. Avoid the boss who just says, "Everything's going to be fine," without doing anything to actually make things better. This type of leader might just be too optimistic, so they ignore reality, don't pivot when they need to, and may have a rigid way of thinking. They're all talk, no action.
How to Hire for Optimism
Optimistic folks are more resilient, cope better with setbacks, and creatively solve problems. When you're interviewing a candidate, try asking: "Tell me about a time when your plan didn't work out, and you had to change your approach." If the person starts making excuses or blaming others, they might not be the optimist you're after. Look for someone who takes responsibility, finds solutions, and adapts to challenges.
Spreading the Optimism
If you want to be more optimistic, start by challenging your own negative thoughts. Ask yourself, "How do I know it'll turn out that way, or is that just my assumption?" Try to come up with alternative framing that makes your situation seem less hopeless.
When you're stuck with a pessimistic colleague, work with them to help them envision the best possible outcome. Ask them, "What would be the ideal result, and how can we make that happen?"
Premortems to the Rescue
One effective tool to overcome pessimism is the classic premortem approach. Basically, you assume that a future project or decision has failed, then hypothesize all the reasons why. This brings flawed thinking to light and allows you to generate creative solutions rather than just giving up or catastrophizing.
Striking a Balance
Excessive optimism can be a problem, especially for entrepreneurs and owners who might ignore red flags. That's where a board of directors comes in – they should be the voice of caution and ask hard questions to ensure the company's strategies and tactics are sound.
Optimism: The Key to Success
Optimism drives results because it focuses on practical, resilient thinking. It allows decision-makers to acknowledge challenges while adapting to sustain progress. There's significant benefit to the organization when both leaders and employees are optimistic about what they need to achieve - as long as they're aware of their optimism and guard against the possibility of denial.
Sources:
[1] Shellgren, P. (2019). The Top 5 Benefits of Optimism in the Workplace. Forbes.
[2] De Vries, M., & Gutiérrez, M. (2018). Toxic Optimism Is as Bad as Toxic Pessimism. Harvard Business Review.
[3] Sparrow, S. (2016). 4 Leadership Styles That Drive Optimism. Forbes.
[4] Gallagher, J. (2020). How Leadership Optimism Boosts Employee Engagement. Chief Learning Officer.
[5] Stanford Graduate School of Business. (2021). Developing Leaders for a Changing World. Stanford University.
- Sumit Paul-Choudhury, a physics scientist turned journalist, believes that optimism is crucial for a successful and problem-solving workforce.
- To be an optimist, one needs three simple beliefs: the future is full of possibilities, some of those possibilities are positive, and they can steer towards those positives.
- Being optimistic doesn't mean everything will go as planned, but it suggests a mindset that believes in the power to find a happy outcome even when things seem difficult.
- In contrast, pessimism can close the door on possibilities and acceptance of the current situation without trying to change it.
- Optimistic leaders are solution-oriented and face challenges with confidence, making them ideal to work for.
- During interviews, it's essential to find candidates who are resilient, adaptable, and take responsibility when things don't go as planned.
- To cultivate optimism, challenge negative thoughts by questioning assumptions and exploring alternative framings for a less hopeless situation.
- Working with pessimistic colleagues, help them envision the best possible outcome by asking about the ideal result and how to make it happen.
- Premortems, where you assume a project or decision has failed and hypothesize reasons for it, are effective in identifying flawed thinking and generating creative solutions.
