Opt for Optimism

Winston Churchill once said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

I have always considered myself a "glass half full" kind of person and it has helped me get through difficult times and ultimately be successful even when it didn’t seem possible. Now various studies are demonstrating how optimism not only improves your health by reducing the likelihood of cardiac disease and other serious illnesses, but it also improves the health of your organization.  Here’s the thing, it starts with leaders.  Whether you are the leader of the organization, a team leader, or an individual contributor with influential leadership qualities, you can make a difference in your workplace.  Here are a few of the benefits:

1.    Optimism creates a sense of possibility, Helping individuals navigate challenges eventually cultivates unwavering determination.  This resilience bolsters individual performance and develops a culture of perseverance within the organization.

2.    Optimism drives innovation.  Having a positive mindset inspires individuals to explore new ideas and embrace change.  When employees feel empowered to think creatively, experiment with novel approaches, and push the boundaries of conventional thinking, innovation happens. 

3.    Optimism is contagious.  When leaders embody optimism, it has an amazing ripple effect on the organization by uplifting and energizing co-workers. This creates a feedback loop where optimism fuels collaboration, fosters camaraderie, and strengthens colleague bonds.  As a result, communication flows more freely and morale grows.

Here are a few easy-to-implement ideas for creating a culture of optimism.

1.    Work environments – Offer programs resources and programs to help manage stress and conflict and create team building.  Consider getting a few teammates together to regularly stretch with my free Express Desk Stretch videos.  Check out this new one. 

2.    Workspaces – Create workplaces with wellness elements like standup desks, walking pads, biophilic features, and relaxing spaces.  Anything that helps them get out of their office chair, helps them to rejuvenate and re-energize.

3.    Transparent communication – Provide an open and honest flow of information throughout the organization and team.  In the absence of information, people tend to go negative so keep the communication flowing.

4.    Recognition – Design reward programs to keep employees motivated and striving for new heights.  Raises, bonuses, and promotions are great, but writing simple “thank you” notes or giving a shout-out at a group meeting also goes a long way toward making employees feel appreciated.

By fostering a culture that embraces optimism, organizations can unleash the full potential of their employees, drive innovation, and cultivate resilience in the face of adversity.  This can become a transformative force that changes individuals and ultimately your organization.

So the challenge is on.  What can you do to bring positivity to your team and your co-workers?

Best regards,

Anita