Necessary Negativity or Dangerous Pessimism
Pessimism is a lifeless struggle toward oblivion.
Pessimistic leaders are dead weight. Progress is hard with rocks in your pockets.
But what is the place of negativity in leadership?
Necessary Negativity
Toxic positivity smiles when the boat is sinking.
“Shoe drop” leadership is necessary. Skillful leaders are preparing for the other shoe to drop, especially in good times.
Negativity is only half the equation.
Leadership Optimism:
Do something else if you really think it won’t work. Pessimists can’t lead.
Optimism is seeing a brighter future and taking action to create it.
Optimism isn’t wishing, “I believe tomorrow will be better. I believe tomorrow will be better. I believe tomorrow will be better.”
“The optimist says I know I will make tomorrow better.” –Jon Gordon
“I think I can,” only works if you add, “Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go.”
Get Real About Optimism
- Optimistic feedback. Identify simple behaviors that make improvement likely. Corrective feedback is always about the future.
- Optimistic problem-solving. Find what’s blocking success. Decide what you will do today. Choose optimism when facing obstacles. You can move forward with work.
- Optimistic project management. You have the talent and resources to finish the job if you bring your best. What’s next?
Believe you can make it work or stop work on it.
4 Steps Toward Optimism:
- Believe. Doubt drains effort before it starts.
- Anticipate obstacles. “Cultivate your realistic optimism by combining a positive attitude with an honest assessment of the challenges that await you.” –Heidi Grant Halvorson
- Plan, act, learn, adapt. Repeat.
- See the good. Correct what isn’t working. Improve what is.
What are the dangers of negativity?
How might pessimistic leaders step toward optimism?
5 Powerful Ways to Release Negativity
Read Jon Gordon’s book: You Win in the Locker Room First: The 7 C’s to Build a Winning Team in Business, Sports, and Life.
I read the Vagrant this weekend. Starts like every other book and then goes in a completely different direction. It’s a great book. I highly recommend.
Negativity is the break while positivity is the accelerator. Both are useful, and both will get you in trouble if used at the wrong time. (Like pressing on the accelerator as you are heading towards a cliff!) Optimism — when done properly — is choosing whether the circumstances call for negativity or positivity rather than always choosing the same one each time.
In my experience, most pessimists self-identify as realists. A realist, however, can be both positive and negative. But they’re both at the right moment. A toxically positive person can ruin a team just as quickly as the Debbie Downer can. No one will want to be around them, nor will they listen to them because they live in denial. Both the toxic positive and the negative Nelly must take action to make the next day, situation, decision…actually, really better.
“Plan, act, learn, adapt. Repeat.” My new favorite continuous improvement recipe wording.