Cautious Optimism

Not only is optimism a key factor that enhances good personal health, it is one of the most important traits of effective leaders.  But is it possible to be too optimistic in your leadership?

Leaders who are overly optimistic – seeing everything through rose-colored glasses – can have their optimism backfire on them.  A leader who has a “we can do anything” viewpoint may be unrealistic in expectations and may be blind to challenges that may inevitably appear.  For sure, leaders have to believe that their business strategy will work.  But they also must have a healthy realism of what can go right and what can go wrong.

A leader’s optimism also has a significant effect on those who follow.  People want to work for those who know where they’re going and how they’re going to get there.  But followers also need to know that their leader is realistic enough to know that challenges can come their way, and that their leader knows how to navigate those challenges.  In a peculiar way, the most effective leaders must have the right balance of optimism and caution.

So the next time you get frustrated with a pessimist, consider what they’re saying and add a measure of caution to your optimistic viewpoint.  Your realism combined with your optimism make for very effective leadership.

 
Here are a few Business & Life Tips to think about….

Business Tips:

• Successful companies take ideas and form strategy, take strategy and form structure, and take structure and form action plans.
• Leadership is all about influence. But you don’t have to be in a leadership position to have significant influence on others.
• It isn’t enough to simply expect your staff to do their job and not thank them for doing it well. We all need positive reinforcement.

Life Tips:

• Courage without measured caution is a recipe for disaster. Have the common sense to listen to others and consider their advice.
• You don’t command life balance the way so many people want it today. You achieve life balance by dedicating yourself to it.
• Take control of your actions. Make sure to get things done with excellence. And have a timeline that is realistic and achievable.

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