3 Keys to Becoming an Optimistic Leader

Key Thought: Effective Leaders are Optimistic

Introduction

Effective leaders must be optimistic. Are you basically an optimistic (positive) person or a pessimistic (negative) person? Do you see a glass filled to the half way point as half full or half empty? Optimism is an essential character trait for effective leadership. Some people are born optimists. Some people are by nature pessimistic. Perhaps you fit that description.  The good news is that whether your natural inclination is optimism or pessimism everyone can become an optimistic leader. 

Why is optimism an essential character trait for a leader? 

    1. Both optimism and pessimism are contagious. A leader's optimism or lack thereof will be 

        passed on to their followers. A lack of optimism is deadly to a church or organization.

    2.  Both optimism and pessimism provide energy. Optimism provides positive energy and builds               momentum allowing much to be accomplished. Pessimism provides negative energy, stops                   progress and leads to paralysis in an organization.

    3. Both optimism and pessimism are atractional. Optimism attracts optimistic people. Pessimism            well you get the picture. 

    4. Optimism is an upward spiral while pessimism is a downward spiral.

Understanding Your Basic Nature

The first step in becoming an optimistic leader is to understand and admit whether your basic inclination is optimism or pessimism. Some people have been blessed with a naturally optimistic personality. The leadership challenge for such people is to move beyond their natural inclination and gain the skills to become truly optimistic leaders. An optimistic leader is also a reality based leader and does not lead based on their feelings no matter how positive they are. An optimistic leader is able to stay engaged for the long haul. 

I am not a naturally optimistic person. Negative thinking comes easy to me. This is most likely attributed to negative life experiences as a child as well as to my natural personality type. The leadership challenge for those who are not naturally optimistic is to recognize their pessimistic nature and gain the skills to become optimistic leaders. Optimism is a  leadership skill that is learned and not dependent on one's natural inclination. At its core it is a deliberate approach and choice in a situation and not a reaction to a situation. 

We will always have pessimistic people on our team or in our organization or ministry. The leadership imperative is to help them to respond and lead with optimism. To do so we must model optimistic leadership in all of our interactions. Here are three keys to becoming an optimistic leader.

Three Keys to Becoming an Optimistic Leader

Key #1: Put Boundaries Around Negative Thinking

A leader is responsible for the emotional climate of the team, organization or ministry they lead. A leader is responsible for his or her own emotional condition and whether they express that condition to others. The leader must not therefore allow negative thinking to persist or gain traction. Paul in Philippians 4 verses 8-9 reminds us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. Dr. Henry Cloud in his book, Boundaries for Leaders, describes the leader as the gatekeeper of thinking in a group. He discusses the 'can't be done' virus that infects many groups and the learned helplessness that develops from such negative thinking. Dr. Cloud advises leaders to audit their own thinking and to audit the thinking of their group or organization. See chapter 6 of Boundaries for Leaders for a great discussion of putting boundaries around negative thinking.

Key #2: Build Confidence and Faith Through God's Word 

The more we base our thinking on God's word the more optimistic we will be. The mind of Christ is a confident optimistic mindset. The best way to transform our minds is through the memorization of God's word. I am currently facing some leadership challenges that require great confidence and optimism. I have begun memorizing scriptures on confidence. As I have been engaged in this process God has been building my confidence. Some of the scriptures are: Matthew 21:21-22; Isaiah 32:17; Psalm 71:17; Philippians 3:3-4; Hebrews 10:35; Hebrews 11:1; and 1 John 5:14. In addition times in prayer bring needed confidence and optimism. When we hear from God we become optimistic.

Key #3: Learn to Re-frame Events to Advance your Mission

Optimism is great but what happens when things go wrong? This where the key leadership skill of re-framing an event is important.  An effective leader never denies the reality of what happens but they are able to interpret the significance of the event in an optimistic manner that will actually advance the ultimate goal. The following example is helpful in illustrating the skill of re-framing. Suppose you have a goal to add 2 leaders to the ministry team of your church in 2017. You tried 3 people but they all failed miserably. Negative thinking begins - our goal did not work - it will never work - we will never find anyone to be added to the ministry - we are wasting our time - if we try someone else the same thing will happen - we are just not able to do this - PARALYSIS sets in. The effective leader immediately puts a boundary around their own negative thinking and the negative thinking of the ministry team. 

The effective leader then re-frames the results in a way to advance the goal.  The leader might say: We gave it a good effort - these 3 people did not work out - we have gained a lot of valuable experience  about what to do and what not to do to add leaders to the church - we learned what kind of support and training is need to successfully add leaders to the team - we learned about what character traits and gifts to look for in leaders - this was a great step in reaching our goal. Re-framing is an essential skill for every leader. Perhaps the greatest illustration of re-framing is the Crucifixion of Jesus. The cross was a sure defeat in the eyes of men but Christianity re-frames it as the greatest victory ever.

Final Thoughts

I encourage you to become an optimistic leader and to continue to build yourself in this area. You can not be an effective leader if you do not lead with optimism.