Strategic Optimism
Is optimism part of your strategy?
Optimistic Inspiration
During Villanova University’s graduation last spring, Bert Jacobs, CEO of Life is Good spoke to the Class of 2019. Through the highs and lows of his life and building the global brand, Life is Good, he offered three messages for graduates to live by:
- Turn the Lights On
- Trust Your Navigation System
- Mind Your Clock
They were metaphors for optimism, values, and protect your time. I often thought about Jacobs’ message. At the time, one word rose above the rest — optimism.
As I entered the new academic year, a few things were weighing on my mind — new leadership role, new office (not just for me, but our entire faculty), father of a 1-year old, etc. All new and all required different forms of growth. With growth come challenges. With challenges, I chose optimism as a compass to help me forge ahead.
Optimistic Action
Right from the start, I wrote on a post-it note, “Turn the Lights On…Optimism!” I placed that post-it on my desk to remind me each day of Jacobs’ story and as a reminder to choose optimism. I also shared my intentional shift towards optimism with teammates for accountability measures. This level of vulnerability paid dividends as colleagues either joined me in the shift during moments of trial, reminded me during personal challenging days, or even acknowledged moments of success in keeping authentic optimism at the center of a conversation.
How might we infuse optimism within our daily and long term plans? Shawn Achor, author of the Happiness Advantage offers a few ideas: meditate, find something to look forward to, commit conscious acts of kindness, infuse positivity into your surroundings, exercise, and exercise a strength. Many of my daily activities fall within those recommendations and more. Building capacity for optimism is personalized — and so, there is a deep search process and reflection required.
Optimistic Resilience
At the time I identified optimism as a personal goal, I assumed the year would be like any other. Wrong! On March 12, I can recall sitting in a meeting about COVID-19, and I kept reflecting on the role optimism needed to play in the coming days — and weeks — with my family, colleagues, and students.
Now two months into quarantine, optimism plays a larger role as it builds resilience. McKinsey & Company shared, “optimism that springs from authentic values and trust in people’s capabilities can be the source of energy for everyone in the organization to move forward.” And so Jacobs’ pillars come full circle as we use our values to nurture an optimistic community. By grounding optimism in authentic values, we ensure our optimism meets reality.
Optimistic Future
There is no doubt talking about the future brings concerns, questions, and a roller coaster of emotions. Each of us serves as a leader — at home, among colleagues, among friends — which means we have the opportunity to lead with optimism.
These thoughts raise some questions: How are you building in moments of optimism for yourself? How are you building in moments of optimism for others?
— -
The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life, Shawn Achor
How to Demonstrate Calm and Optimism in a Crisis, Mckinsey & Company, April 2020
