Your attitude in life, leadership and work can have a positive effect on you and those around you. An optimistic person takes on challenges with confidence. They have the ability to encourage. Living as an optimist will lower your stress levels, help to prevent anxiety and depression, and give you more control over situations instead of letting circumstances get the best of you.
An attitude of optimism is even baked into the Bible. Throughout Scripture we see calls to keep our attitude positive through circumstances. Micah 7:7 reminds us, “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” Optimism can improve your cognitive functions and memory and enhance your problem-solving ability. Others like to be around optimistic people. Being optimistic will have a massive positive effect on your leadership. Here are eight practical ways to be more optimistic every day:
Look for the opportunity. An optimist looks at challenges and hard tasks with an eye to the very best outcome. How could this thing help our organization, grow our people, be successful? Every dispute, confrontation, test, trial, demand, dare, disagreement or objection before you is an opportunity in disguise.
Recognize good things. When something good happens, don’t overlook it. Call it out. Share it publicly. The deal that closed, the growth last quarter, the finished project, the way that employee expressed a core value. Good things are happening all the time, so remind people of them.
Find satisfaction outside work. Optimistic leaders have a life beyond the office. Encourage people to take time off and pursue passions, hobbies and time with family. Working with blinders on keeps you from seeing all that life has to offer. As a leader, when you leave on Friday because you have plans for the weekend, you’re communicating that priority to those around you.
One aspect of optimism is a leader’s ability to help others cope by giving perspective and encouragement.
Look to God. A spiritual foundation in life and leadership makes for a powerful optimist. God consistently promises His best for us, and that we can live and lead with confidence because of His watchcare over us. 1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
Don’t blame. When bad things happen, don’t immediately look for who is at fault. Instead, focus on moving forward. The Japanese have a saying, “Don’t fix the blame, fix the problem.” Find out what needs to be fixed and start working on it. Teach everyone to be responsible to soldier on versus point fingers.
Give credit. Always be ready with a high-five for someone who has gone above-and-beyond. As a leader, credit is something you are always looking to give away versus take for yourself. People love to have their accomplishments recognized. And remember that credit is infinitely divisible—there are no limits to how many people can be called out for contributing to the outcome.[1]
Put setbacks in perspective. When failure happens, the optimist relies on perspective, looking to the past and their experiences to maintain a positive attitude. They think about how they have recovered before, and the fact that they survived worse failures than this one. An optimist helps others rise beyond failure by sharing their perspective. This has happened before and it will happen again, but we will survive it and we may even thrive because of it!
Help others cope. Perhaps the greatest benefit of the optimist in his sphere of influence is helping others to cope with negatives, storms and trials of life and work through purposeful and personal encouragement. Sometimes all it takes to lift someone’s spirits is a leader or trusted advisor putting a hand on a shoulder and saying, “It’s going to be okay.” “I’m with you.” “I’ll support you.” “You can talk to me.” As you lead with optimism, you will find opportunities to lift up those around you and through this, find another great truth about optimism: it’s contagious.
[1] https://hbr.org/2014/03/the-importance-of-giving-credit
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