Pessimists, Optimists, and Leaders

By Tim Elmore

If something has surfaced after two years of a pandemic, it’s the polarization of people into camps. I don’t mean political or ideological camps regarding masks, vaccines, and conspiracies. I mean camps that represent mindsets: pessimists, optimists, and leaders. Most of us love being around optimists, but they tend to oversimplify what it will take to succeed. Most don’t enjoy pessimists, but they claim to live closer to reality. I believe as we launch a new year, we don’t need more pessimists or optimists who believe the glass is half empty or half full. We need leaders who are busy filling the glass. Let me offer some examples.

ATTITUDES

Pessimists think the cup is half empty.

Optimists think the cup is half full.

Leaders are already brewing another cup.

OBSTACLES

Pessimists complain about the wind.

Optimists assume the wind will change.

Leaders adjust the sails.

RESILIENCE

Pessimists assume we will never get out of a mess.

Optimists make empty promises that we’ll be out of that mess by the holidays.

Leaders embrace both the brutal facts and the hope that we will one day prevail.

MOTIVATION

Pessimists make harsh demands on others, assuming the worst about people.

Optimists hold a high belief in people, assuming it’s sufficient to bring out their best.

Leaders relay both high expectations and beliefs, which actually improve performance. 

COMMUNICATION

Pessimists only offer the truth to people even when it’s depressing.

Optimists offer only grace to people and think it will correct all wrongs.

Leaders offer both truth and grace, making people both responsive and demanding.

INNOVATION

Optimists invent marvelous contributions like the airplane.

Pessimists invent marvelous contributions like the parachute.

Leaders offer training to pilots and passengers to use both.

PERSPECTIVE

Pessimists see all the disadvantages of a new situation.

Optimists see all the advantages of a new situation.

Leaders turn disadvantages into advantages.

The Key to Our Success: Adaptability

None of us have seen a period of time this devastating to our nation. There have been worse years in U.S. history and definitely worse years in world history, but no one alive today has seen anything like what we saw during 2020 and 2021. You’d need to be over 100 to remember the devastation of World War 1 and the Spanish Flu. You’d have to be about 90 to remember the Great Depression and World War 2. Allow me to suggest three metaphors—training wheels, snow globes and telescopes—to help us navigate this new year on the heels of an evolving pandemic and a fragile economy. The key, of course, will be adaptability.

Training Wheels

Most of us have no “training wheels” for the times we are living in. Perhaps we can build new training wheels now that we might offer to the young for use in the future. How can we utilize 2021 to prepare the emerging generation (like a set of training wheels for their journey)? Training wheels help people stay balanced and move forward. What have we learned that will equip us all for the future?

Snow Globes

For much of the last two years, we’ve felt we were incarcerated and isolated in our own little world, helpless to get out and do what we normally do. Snow Globes are those small, plastic bubbles that have a village inside of them, but it’s contained. How can we equip younger generations to break out of their snow globes, and get them ready for the outside world that needs them?

Telescopes

Telescopes enable astronomers to see realities in the distance, which average folks can’t see.

Truth be told, every outbreak, epidemic, and pandemic I’ve researched included stories from history of how civilizations emerged from dark times better for them—with perspective, inventions, discoveries, and vaccines that we would not have possessed without those dark times.

The Renaissance emerged following the Black Death in Europe, which decimated much of the world, killing millions in its path. But life afterward was brighter than ever. Paintings of Christ on the cross became paintings of Christ stepping out of the empty tomb. Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Rembrandt created art in the shadow of the Black Death, determined to turn the tide of culture with their talent. It required people to have long-term perspective and hope.

We must do the same today.

Can we turn our boredom, angst, loneliness, and annoyance into something redemptive? Can we sing the national anthem and believe that our flag is still there? Can we sing a worship song and believe our God is still there? I’m not asking you to assume the cup is half empty or half full. I am asking you to start filling the cup.

TimElmore.com

GrowingLeaders.com