Attentive, as a consultant and for some time, to the visible distortion with which we tend to perceive events in companies, and also to the frequent signs of optimism that we display, I encourage you to formulate and share some reflections.
Although there is a tendency, in the company and in general, to value optimism as positive and pessimism as negative, perhaps -for the benefit of results- it is necessary to resort, more often and among others, to terms such as objectivity, critical thinking, insight and even intuition, and better to explore the realities that way.
I think we must qualify optimism, especially on the business stage.
In 2004, in a short catechetical text that still appears on the Internet, I mentioned “realistic optimism” as an important personal strength, although many other adjectives had also been used for this idea (intelligent, responsible, conscious, dynamic…).
Today I would almost prefer to speak of "optimistic realism", to underline the need to be more objective, without giving up on improving things. However, I consider quite current that list (synthesis of the postulates of Goleman, Covey and other experts) of cardinal strengths - intrapersonal attributes that favor our effectiveness - in which optimism was embedded:
- Self-awareness and knowledge Grounded self-confidence Eagerness for improvement and achievement Open-mindedness and flexibility Self-control and temperance Commitment and responsibility Commitment and proactivity Genuine intuition Realistic optimism Courage and integrity
Perhaps, in addition to insisting on good judgment, I would make explicit in this list today the ideas of self-discipline and orientation to the common good; But, avoiding dispersion and focusing on the optimism that concerns us here, I believe that we have been doing two main (not unique) readings, which take the form of a temporal dimension:
- Favorable interpretation of everyday events (present) Visible confidence in a favorable evolution of events (future).
Martin Seligman helps us to identify and measure different aspects of optimism about everyday events and also about the perception of the future, and even reminds us that optimism contributes to happiness and longevity; but in the company we have to be as objective as we can in relation to what is happening, and be proactive to ensure the desired future. In other words, we have to see realities as they are (which is never entirely possible), and cause things to evolve favorably; A specific meaning of optimism adapted to the business framework must be contemplated.
Optimism of managers and workers
To perceive the realities - avoiding entering neuroscience now, because I could not do it rigorously and it is still shown to us in the gestation period - a possible reengineering of our mental schemes or models (inveterate beliefs), a greater openness of vision would help us, a good level of cognitive skills, a penetrating and analytical attitude, and a solid personal integrity, without ruling out the extraordinary help of genuine intuition if we know how to cultivate it. But also, this temporal division seems to invite workers and managers to link the present with a realism or objectivity compatible with the necessary constructive attitude, and the future with a responsible or intelligent optimism (not blind, not delusional). Let's talk, for simplicity, of optimism, but let's understand it nuanced.
When talking about the future, obviously we cannot influence everything that has to happen, but we can influence what corresponds to us within the organization and perhaps something else; On the other hand, Daniel Goleman reminds us that an expectation of success is more energizing than mistrust or fear of failure, which, on the contrary, seize us. In his display of emotional competencies, this author equates initiative with optimism, and also tells us that optimistic people are resistant to obstacles and adversities, that they associate these more with setbacks than personal failures, that they act with confidence in their achievements., who take advantage of opportunities… Thus understood, optimism must be unquestionably postulated in the company.
Also and as we suggested before, we can link optimism with the proactivity that Covey spoke to us when identifying habits for effectiveness, and that is nourished, among other sources, by the expectation of achievement with which we have to assume the leading role in our lives.
This connection also reminds us of the presence of self-confidence, situated at the sweet spot between fear and arrogance, and close to security and good humor. In short, optimism is related to security and trust in ourselves and in others, with initiative, with enthusiasm, with will, with the desire to achieve…, and must also be reconciled with elements such as critical thinking, objectivity, insight, prudence, perspective, perseverance and reflection.
Let me recall a paragraph from The Delphi Report (1990), of the American Philosophical Association: “The ideal critical thinker is usually inquisitive, well-informed, of reliable reasoning, open-minded, flexible, fair evaluator, honest in acknowledging his biases, prudent to make judgments, willing to reconsider, clear about problems, organized in complex matters, diligent in the search for relevant information, reasonable in the selection of criteria, focused on investigating and persistent in the search for results that are as precise as the topic / subject and the circumstances of the investigation allow it ”. I believe that in the age of information and knowledge, critical thinking must accompany us at all times,to give strength and value to our cognitive and emotional positioning before each information or situation.
I dwell on the idea of critical thinking, and not so much on positive thinking, because perhaps we are not paying enough attention to this movement. The critical thinking movement was promoted in the previous decade and is especially associated with the concern for informational excellence in companies. The translation of information into knowledge, to ensure the efficiency of each decision and action, requires a good dose of critical thinking: a key informational competence that avoids false learning. And I close this parenthesis dedicated to the penetrating and inquisitive attitude to each fact or information.
So nuanced optimism (based on an approximation to reality) seems a trait to bet on (already in the selection of personnel), which does not prevent us from being pessimistic about a given case, if its careful evaluation leads us to it. Of course, optimism is highly regarded and is associated, as we said, with positive thinking, efficacy, happiness and longevity. Optimism has been preached in companies to energize people after goals, although perhaps it has also been done at times to neutralize criticism and misgivings from workers and managers; criticisms and misgivings that are not always unfounded. I do not know that pessimism is preached, and critical thinking does not seem to be much postulated, perhaps in case someone confuses it with mere criticism, or, in his case,with the inquiry about what you do not want to reveal.
Of pessimism
Of pessimism it must be said, of course, that it is not a sin, and that there are even those who speak of "intelligent pessimism"; but it is frowned upon, because it is obstructionist and because it is associated with negative thinking and a lack of efficacy and happiness. Obviously, we would have to distinguish between habitual and occasional pessimism.
If there are degrees or variants of optimism, there is also logically room for pessimism; Perhaps one of the most annoying pessimisms is that of doomsayers, but let's not forget the negatives, the complainers, the disbelievers, the spoilers…
However, not a few failures have been consummated because at one point there was someone missing to bring out the underlying difficulties that optimists did not perceive.
Perhaps in each group of optimists some pessimist should be infiltrated; but it is also worth remembering here the colored hats of Edward De Bono, and paying attention to each case, to each specific analysis.
The author recommended that we all think with different hats, that is, from different positions: be optimistic at one point, and pessimistic at another, on the same issue.
We should first use the yellow hat of well-founded optimism and positive or constructive thinking, and then move on to the black hat of critical or negative judgment. The fact is that both judgments, the positive and the negative, are necessary to get closer to reality at all times.
Certainly it is possible to be optimistic or pessimistic not only because this is part of our personality, but also because the specific event or the goal pursued are, or not, favorable or achievable; In other words, and insisting on it, in the company we speak of optimism and pessimism as personality traits, but we also do it as occasional attitudes or positions.
However, even if the occasion is adverse, the individual with an optimistic profile - perhaps more acquired than inherited - will be able to solidly argue his mistrust, and the pessimistic one will make, where appropriate and probably, more imprecise formulations.
Know, want, believe
Of course, in our professional performance the path to business goals is almost always difficult and intricate, and it is not exempt from unexplored spaces, fortune, traps, shortcuts, coincidences, obstacles and other favorable and adverse elements; but success seems proportional to the confidence that guides us, if it is based on a certain and synergistic realism, and accompanied by will and competence.
Indeed, the achievement of results requires us professional competence, with all its hard and soft deployment: there is no doubt about it; and it also demands will: we cannot separate volitional elements (motivation) from success.
But it also demands a solid optimistic attitude from us; Confidence in the desired achievement contributes, to a great extent, to predicting it, just as pessimism seems to announce failure. Repeating, the achievement of ambitious achievements seems to demand of us:
- Ability to act (Competence) Willingness to do it (Motivation) Faith in results (Optimism)
It can be said that competition makes us capable, that motivation drives us and that an intelligent conviction is as catalytic as it is necessary. Have you tried to achieve something difficult without being confident in achieving it, or doubting the value of the results you want?
For years, it has seemed that, if we added capacity and motivation, everything was resolved, but the truth is that we have to pay more attention to goals, and to faith in their achievement, as well as that they are worthwhile and fulfill aspirations. We must have sufficient perspective to know how each effort contributes to the expected individual and collective results, and perhaps to remember that faith moves mountains.
Before continuing, perhaps it is worth dwelling on the goals of the organization, beyond the annual objectives. We can remember corporate formulations such as "leading the market in our sector in Spain", or "getting the quality award from the EFQM", which very legitimately interested more than one CEO in the 90s: at that time there were great obsessions to lead markets, and there are still today. But there were also in those years those who were better aligned with goals or visions of greater social orientation, such as "each person with their mobile phone", or "Internet for each student", or "flat screens for all", or "silent appliances", or "clean energy", or "tires without punctures", or "houses without leaks", or "ergonomic mattresses", or "dentures without cavities", or "a world without AIDS", or "protection of nature"…
I think that with more socially oriented formulations, companies would perhaps catalyze a bit more the emotional energy of their people.
Of course, whoever writes this needs to believe in what he is doing in order to display all his capabilities; If I don't believe in something - in its validity, in its usefulness - I block myself, I get stuck. I will not tire you with particular examples, but I trust that something similar will happen to you; I am not saying that it is a virtue, because for me it has been a certain difficulty on many occasions. However, I would argue that the desirable binomial “effectiveness + quality of life” demands that of “believing”, apart from “knowing” and “wanting”.
Final comments
But, why did it seem appropriate to speak of optimism and pessimism, in this spring of 2006? In March in Spain we witnessed an ETA communiqué that spoke of a permanent ceasefire, and a subsequent and consequent series of statements and analyzes by politicians and journalists, which showed different intermediate points between the explosion of optimism and pessimistic skepticism., reaching anger and indignation, and going through what seems more widespread: satisfaction accompanied by hope and prudence.
Added to the latter is this columnist, and hopefully he can continue to do so when these lines are published. But in fact: professionally I admit to having been pessimistic at some time.
Recently, a friend called me a doomsayer because I mistrusted the results of a certain training program; to me, wrong or right, it seemed to me that it was being orchestrated not to satisfy the real needs of the participants, but to satisfy those who orchestrated it. Fortunately, I have been a trainer for many years, and almost always with well-founded optimism about the results; but it is true that, being part of a large organization, I was pessimistic, for example, in more than one e-learning project.
To finish this text, I wonder how a recent achievement or setback affects our profile (optimistic / pessimistic), or why we do not draw more lessons from successes and failures.
I think that an unexpected defeat, as we see for example in soccer teams, can cause us a significant bump, but it can also help us to gain momentum and fight for new victories; the option does not seem to always be the same for the same person, and here I would refer to new ingredients, such as psychic fatigue or conflict of goals.
In football, all the good and bad of the teams are certainly very visible. It is appreciated when the players trust in the triumph, and also when they play with the necessary dedication, or if they do it with excess of confidence.
And equally the appearance of pessimism, in a degree of gripping prudence, or assumption of defeat is appreciated. The positive and negative emotions of the players are very visible, as are the states of autotelic flow, in which the players seem to be communicated and illuminated by intuition: everything works out for them. But I'm finishing.
Regarding the digestion of successes and failures, and for the benefit of objectivity in the face of new challenges, we must take care of the optimism derived from previous successes (“trusting”), and avoid excesses of complacency; but we must also do a good analysis of the failures, identifying possible exogenous and endogenous causes to try to neutralize them in the future. Normally, in our professional trajectory we alternate successes and failures, and from all of them we can learn, although we often forget it. In short, and ending now, perhaps we should use these terms - optimism and pessimism - with greater precision.
