Is it Positive Thinking or Are You Just Kidding Yourself?
Long before Randy Pausch ever gave his Last Lecture speech, my sister likened me to Eeyore. I’m always able to imagine the worst-case scenario, but not so good at imagining the best. I struggle with this natural tendency every day.
It’s hard to be positive when there’s negativity all around, not only in the form of layoffs and increased workloads, but also in reports of war and violence and natural disasters. Good news reports are grossly outnumbered by bad and often appear at the end of individual segments or programs (if they appear at all). It’s no wonder people feel discouraged, despite reports that the economy is recovering, especially if they work for companies that are still laying people off. Many remaining employees feel overwhelmed by their increased workloads. Some employers, fearing that the economy may take a turn for the worse once more, are opting to hire temps to help out rather than hire regular employees to fill the vacancies, maintaining a “realistic view.” Other employers are choosing to have a more positive outlook, and they’re encouraging their employees to do the same.
“Critics say that positive thinking is just a way for companies to improve morale while they continue to burden employees with the threat of layoffs and an ever-increasing workload,” says Sue Shellenbarger in her article for the Wall Street Journal, Thinking Happy Thoughts at Work.
I doubt that the critics are correct, but even if they are, so what? What’s wrong with trying to keep employees’ spirits up as they face tough times? Allowing them to sink into a pit of despair won’t be any more helpful, and it could make matters worse. People tend to be less productive when they feel discouraged. I am not alone in this belief.
“Optimism is a very powerful tool. It is what enables us to seek opportunity in the midst of disaster. If all you do is focus on the problems, you are more likely to simply become stressed out or discouraged, neither of which lead to innovative solutions,” said psychology professor, Stephen Balzac. “Building a positive mindset increases enthusiasm, energy, and creativity. In short, you are more likely to solve the problems rather than run from them.”
“‘Stuff happens’ – life is messy and unpredictable. Change is a part of life and problems are inescapable,” said Barbara Burke, consultant and author of The Napkin, The Melon, & The Monkey: How to Be Happy and Successful at Work and in Life by Simply Changing Your Mind. There are two types of people – the strugglers and the realists.
- “A struggler (The Eeyore) is just that. He view life as a battle to be fought, a competition for limited resources and abundance, he’s a victim of circumstance. He tends to live in fear of the next event.
- A realist (The Tigger) is someone who understands that while he has no control over much of what happens to him or the behavior of others, he does have control and power over one thing — his reaction.
“The best leaders are optimists – they are the Tiggers of the world. Tiggers don’t let fear get in their way. Tiggers inspire others to see the possibilities – to embrace the future. Tiggers understand ‘if it isn’t one thing, it’s another.'”
There are some who disagree with Burke and feel that Eeyore and Tigger personalities are extremes that are best avoided. “The fact of the matter is that positive thinking alone can skew reality. Tigger is full of folly, lacks good sense, and Eyesore is just depressed. The reality is somewhere in the middle,” said consultant and author of Pure Profits, Al Auger.
All things in moderation, even positive thinking.
“There are bad things in companies, in bosses, in colleagues, and in life — that is the same for everyone. What is different is how you chose to look at it or deal with it. With a positive perspective you have the kind of attitude that is good for people who hire you, good for people who work with you, good for people who follow you, and good for you.
There are people who have no interest in being happy or optimistic. Their negative, self-defeating attitude feeds and grows like bacteria in a Petri dish,” said author and executive coach, Debra Benton.
I’m a big fan of Pastor Joel Osteen, who has been criticized by other pastors for preaching sermons that are unrealistic, pie-in-the-sky and give people false hope. He counters that in fact, what he preaches is a refusal to succumb to discouragement and despair because those feelings could lead to inaction. Employers who believe their companies won’t survive the recession will infect their employees with the same negativity and could ultimately make their beliefs self-fulfilling prophecies. Their employees will adopt the mindset of “Why bother to try if the company’s going to fail anyway?” Who knows what company saving ideas went unvoiced and untested because the employees believed that all was already lost?
