The Truth About Optimism When You’re Leading Through Uncertainty

It seems there’s not a lot everyone can agree on these days … except maybe how hard it can be to feel optimistic about things.

After all, optimism is something reserved for when things are going well – or at least that there’s the promise of better times ahead.

It’s certainly not something we should expect during periods of uncertainty and disruptive change.

But what if our thinking about optimism is all wrong?

It’s a question I explore in this edition of my Leadership Espresso Shot series where I share a story from the life of an incredibly successful leader who faced a period of uncertainty much like we’re experiencing now.

But unlike the current reality for many organizations today, this leader’s company wasn’t profitable. On the contrary, it was on the verge of going bankrupt.

But it’s what he did next that reveals a powerful lesson for how we should view optimism, especially during periods of uncertainty if we want to ensure we can continue to succeed and grow in the years to come.

I’ve shared this story in some of my leadership keynotes and I can tell you it really does help to inform and re-energize our understanding of what we can and should be doing to effectively lead our team through the fog of uncertainty and change.