You Find What You Look For
Pessimists think optimists are monkeys catching elephants in a trapeze act without a net.
Dark leadership:
You never get ahead by burying your head in the sand. You earn leadership opportunities by confronting tough issues, solving problems, and seizing opportunities.
Leaders don’t need encouragement to anticipate darkness and difficulties. But if you aren’t careful, you walk around always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Anticipation of bad news prevents you from fully enjoying good news.
Don’t get too happy. Inevitable sadness feels easier to bear. You don’t dare to be too happy because the fall to sadness seems inevitable. It feels safe and wise to temper happiness.
Two old men:
Two old men have been friends for years. One of them becomes gravely ill, and the other visits him in the hospital.
They are chatting, when the friend pauses. “Since you are on your deathbed, I wonder if you could do me a favor. When you get to Heaven, can you let me know if they play baseball there?”
His sick friend agrees. Shortly after, he passes away.
A few days later, the surviving friend wakes to hear his deceased friend’s voice.
Deceased Friend: I have good news and bad news.
Living Friend: What’s the good news?
DF: There’s baseball in Heaven!
LF: Great! What’s the bad news?
DF: You’re scheduled to pitch tomorrow.
(My living friend Anthony Demangone, Executive Vice President and COO of NAFCU, posted this joke on his blog a week ago.)
Findings:
- Assume the worst. Find the worst.
- Look for problems. Find difficulties and obstacles.
- Look for progress. Find gratitude. (The benefits of gratitude make it a magic elixir for health and happiness.)
- Search for opportunities. Find energy.
You find what you look for. Then you justify your findings.
How might leaders be alert for darkness and also see the bright?
Afterword: I’m not suggesting you bury you head in the sand. Just look for more than negatives, if you ever hope to be a positive leader.
Learn to roll with punches has been a key for years, there is a solution, sometimes you have to think. The dark side is inevitable be prepared, knowing we all will have those days, bouncing back takes grit to put on your “happy face”, the supreme shines above all.
Thanks Tim. The first thing that went through my mind when I read your comment about “happy face” is the research on the power of smiling to elevate our mood. Even a fake smile sends a positive message to the brain.
It’s so interesting because we think of the brain telling us we are happy or sad. But it seems that the physical act of smiling pushes our brain toward happiness.
Dan,
My first grade teacher categorized me as “happy go lucky” so perhaps through life I carried on her viewpoint “unhappiness” is a place to stay away from as best we can! The fact a smile and our brains connect us into a better place in our minds works, we just need to be able share the boost, takes far less muscles to smile and more muscles to frown.
After a tough week, it takes resilience to reflect on the past objectively then turn forward again. But you have to. If the leader falters then the followers have nothing to follow.
Don’t let the doomsday predictors retard your focus on the future, opportunity and improvement. Listen – take on board – then chart the course around the risks identified.
Thanks Rob. I’m totally on board with the importance of turning toward the future. It’s very easy to get sucked into black holes. It takes intention and toughness to keep pushing into the future when every day is filled with problems to solve.
Excellent Post! Great wisdom. Love the story of the two old friends.
Resiliency is key. As we age we seem to lose sight of optimism. http://leadfreely.ca/2017/08/06/what-if-you-were-to-only-think-in-positive-outcomes/
This quote is so important: “Anticipation of bad news prevents you from fully enjoying good news.” Do your best with positive energy!!! Then, if of value as well as time and resources permitting: assess, Consider, plan, and continue seeking improvement.