We are always going on about how we are openly optimistic that our experiences of change can be positive, that it doesn’t have to be shit (it’s literally the title of the Everyday Change Playbook).
And that’s because we believe in the power of optimism. But what does that mean? It does NOT mean we are skipping around with our rose-tinted glasses on, sprinkling rose petals over failed change programmes left and right, and giving free hugs to sobbing change leaders.
What do we know? Optimism isn’t delusional, or at least it shouldn’t be! It absolutely does not mean we ignore the red flags and carry on regardless. Take those rose-tinted glasses and shove them up your…! It means we believe we can do this stuff and do it well, even when things don’t go as planned…especially when things don’t go as planned (because they rarely do).
Optimism is an attitude, a belief, a mind-set, a trust that things will be ok and a fuel to keep you going when the shit starts hitting the fan. Keep your head up – eyes on the prize.
Because if you don’t believe you can do something, you probably can’t. Being optimistic makes everything better. Being optimistic makes stuff much more likely to actually happen. Being optimistic when things are going badly means you are looking for the best way to make it better. Not deluded. And if you are optimistic and persistent, you’ll probably find the best way to make it better too.
And that’s why we believe in being optimistic, we’ve done it, we live it, and is a big part of why we know change doesn’t have to be shit.
So, what can you do about it? Optimism can feel a bit lonely, especially when everyone around you is being a negative Nellie! What if you are naturally more pessimistic? Or what if it’s become a learned habit to assume things are going to be miserable, because they have been bloody miserable before?
Optimism is a conscious choice; one you will have to make again and again, sometimes daily, sometimes hourly (sometimes every few minutes if the meeting is that bad!). What this actually means will be different for everyone. Here are some suggestions of things that you may need to do strengthen that optimism:
- put some physical or mental distance between yourself and the nay-sayers for a while (or maybe forever if you can) but don’t shut out constructive criticism – there’s a big difference.
- recognise when you are thinking negatively and consciously change the way you are thinking to find the positive – at the very least, believe that you’ll be OK whatever the outcome.
- look for and act on the positive. Every. Single. Day. Tell someone you appreciate the work they have done, give positive feedback, praise someone for their efforts, it doesn’t have to be a big thing.
- imagine a positive future, picture things going well in your mind and focus on what the positive results could be.
- find things to be grateful for daily (these can be pretty insignificant, but we all feel better when the sun is shining).
This stuff might sound a bit simple (and I expect you might have even let a causal eye roll slip in). But its powerful stuff. You are what you think.
Better Change?
Naturally. If you can be a bit more optimistic about your change, in a pragmatically wonderful take no shit, but the worlds not on fire kind of way.