PEOPLE GET HUNG UP on all the challenges they’re facing.  Big competitors.  Annoying customers.  Employee turnover.

But here’s the thing:  EVERYTHING has a good side and a bad side.

Often they’re two sides of the same coin.  For instance, the loss of a good employee can mean the opportunity to find someone who’s a superstar.

Yes, your job as the leader is to see both sides.  But that doesn’t mean you have to fixate too much on one or the other.

For myself, I find it very useful to lean towards optimism.  “Leaning toward” is a matter of choice, and I notice when I swing too far away from that.

And it makes a powerful difference.  To me, to partners, to employees, to customers.

What does “leaning toward optimism” look like?  I have some mantras:

  • Everybody is just doing the best they can with the information and resources at hand.
  • We’re smart, we can figure this out.
  • People are more productive and motivated when they’re having some fun.
  • Everybody needs positive reinforcement, even me.

Does it always work?  Of course not.

But if it helps 95% of the time, that’s pretty darned good.