Choose Optimism | Youry Royke P.T. | LeadingSelf Expect The Best

Student Life UPH

5 Aug 202006:00

Summary

TLDRIn this leadership session on 'Expect the Best,' the speaker emphasizes three best practices: Choose Optimism, Fail Forward, and Remember Wins. The focus is on 'Choose Optimism,' which involves maintaining a positive mindset in leadership. Key tips include starting with a vision, remembering your 'why,' seeing the good in others, refusing to dwell on circumstances, smiling often, not making a big deal out of small issues, believing people can change, and refusing to tolerate negativity. These strategies help leaders maintain optimism and effectively lead themselves and their teams.

Takeaways

😀 Optimism is key in leadership, and it involves focusing on the positive.
💧 The 'half-full vs. half-empty' analogy is used to highlight optimistic vs. pessimistic mindsets.
⛰️ Leaders should start with a clear vision, like reaching a mountain summit.
🤔 Remembering your 'why' helps maintain motivation when challenges arise.
👍 Focus on seeing the good in others, which helps sustain optimism within a team.
🛑 Avoid dwelling on negative circumstances and rise above them mentally.
😊 Smiling can trigger positive emotions and foster an optimistic outlook.
🌱 Don't make a big deal out of small problems to maintain a positive mindset.
🔄 Believe that people can change, and this will encourage optimism within your team.
🚫 Refuse to tolerate negative and overly critical team members to maintain a positive environment.

Q & A

What is the first best practice in the 'Expect the Best' session?
-The first best practice is to 'Choose Optimism,' which encourages a positive mindset in leadership.
What example does the speaker give to explain optimism?
-The speaker uses a water bottle example, asking whether it is seen as half-full or half-empty. Seeing it as half-full indicates an optimistic mindset.
How does optimism relate to leadership according to the speaker?
-Optimism in leadership means maintaining a positive outlook, especially when leading oneself. It involves controlling one’s mental attitude in response to situations, rather than being controlled by external factors.
What is the importance of having a vision in optimism?
-Having a vision helps leaders focus on a goal, like hiking a mountain with the goal of reaching the summit. Without a clear vision, progress is hindered.
Why is 'Remember your why' crucial in maintaining optimism?
-'Remember your why' is important because it provides motivation to keep going, especially in challenging circumstances like bad weather during a mountain hike.
How does 'See the good in others' contribute to optimism in leadership?
-Focusing on the positive traits in team members helps maintain optimism, as it prevents leaders from losing hope or being bogged down by negative perceptions.
What does the speaker mean by 'Refuse to dwell in your circumstances'?
-It means not allowing negative situations or conditions to overwhelm you mentally. Instead, rise above the circumstances and maintain a positive outlook.
How does smiling contribute to optimism?
-Smiling triggers a physical response that leads to positive emotions. As Anthony Robins said, 'motion is the source of emotion,' so smiling can help create a sense of joy and optimism.
Why should small problems not be blown out of proportion?
-Blowing up small problems makes it harder to stay optimistic. It's important to keep a level-headed perspective and not let minor obstacles become major setbacks.
What is the significance of believing that people can change in a team setting?
-Believing that people can change fosters optimism, as it allows leaders to stay hopeful and positive about the potential growth and improvement of their team members.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Choose Optimism and Lead Yourself Positively

The speaker introduces the second session of the leadership class focused on 'Expect the Best,' with three key practices: 'Choose Optimism,' 'Fail Forward,' and 'Remember Wins.' They begin with 'Choose Optimism,' explaining how it influences leadership. Using the example of viewing a water bottle as half-full or half-empty, optimism is defined as seeing the positive. Leaders should embrace optimism by controlling their mental attitude toward circumstances. Practical tips include starting with a vision (like reaching the summit when hiking), remembering your purpose, seeing the good in others, and refusing to be overwhelmed by negative circumstances. Smiling often and not making a big deal out of small obstacles are also encouraged as ways to maintain an optimistic mindset.

05:00

💪 Believing in Change and Maintaining a Positive Team

The speaker continues with advice on leadership and optimism. They stress the importance of believing that people can change, which helps maintain a positive and optimistic outlook when working with team members. Leaders are encouraged to reject negative or critical thoughts from team members to preserve a positive environment. By focusing on optimism, leaders can influence the team's morale and steer away from negativity, ensuring a constructive and forward-looking approach.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Choose Optimism

This concept encourages leaders to adopt a positive mindset when facing challenges. In the video, 'Choose Optimism' is the first key best practice and involves focusing on the positive aspects of situations. It highlights that while we cannot control external circumstances, we can control how we mentally respond to them. For example, seeing a water bottle as half-full represents an optimistic outlook.

💡Fail Forward

Fail Forward refers to using failure as a learning opportunity. The idea is to view mistakes as a way to grow and improve, rather than being discouraged by them. In leadership, this is critical because leaders will face setbacks, and how they respond can inspire their teams to persevere. The notion aligns with optimism, as it involves seeing the positive side of failure.

💡Remember Wins

This practice involves reflecting on past successes to maintain motivation and optimism. By 'Remembering Wins,' leaders can boost morale and encourage forward progress. In the context of the video, this means focusing on what has gone well to counterbalance challenges and setbacks, fueling optimism for future goals.

💡Vision

A vision is the clear goal or destination one strives to achieve. The speaker uses the analogy of mountain hiking, where the vision is to reach the summit. Without a vision, progress is aimless. In leadership, having a clear vision helps guide decisions and maintain focus, especially in difficult circumstances.

💡Remember Your Why

This refers to recalling the deeper purpose or reason behind one's actions or goals. In the video, this concept is illustrated by the example of hiking a mountain; when conditions get tough, remembering why you started the journey helps you stay motivated. Leaders are encouraged to remember their 'why' to maintain resilience in tough times.

💡See the Good in Others

This practice encourages leaders to focus on the strengths and positive attributes of their team members, rather than dwelling on their weaknesses. The speaker highlights that concentrating on others' positive qualities helps maintain optimism and prevents discouragement, especially when aiming for team goals.

💡Refuse to Dwell in Circumstances

This means not letting external situations and challenges dominate your mindset. Leaders are encouraged to mentally rise above difficult conditions. While situations may be tough, dwelling on them can drain optimism. Instead, maintaining a positive mental attitude helps leaders stay resilient.

💡Smile Often

The act of smiling is presented as a simple yet powerful way to trigger optimism. The speaker cites Anthony Robbins, who says that 'motion is the source of emotion.' By smiling, leaders can positively influence their own emotional state, which helps maintain an optimistic outlook, even in challenging times.

💡Believe People Can Change

This concept encourages leaders to have faith in the potential for growth and improvement in others. Rather than being critical or cynical about team members, believing they can change fosters a more positive and supportive environment. This optimism helps in cultivating a team’s development and achieving better outcomes.

💡Refuse Negative and Critical Team Members

Leaders are advised to actively reject negative attitudes and critical behaviors within their teams. The presence of such negativity can sap optimism and hinder progress. By refusing to tolerate this, leaders can create a more positive, productive, and optimistic team culture, which is essential for success.

Highlights

The second session of leadself focuses on the theme: Expect the Best.

The three best practices for expecting the best are: Choose Optimism, Fail Forward, and Remember Wins.

Choose Optimism means thinking positively, such as seeing a half-full water bottle instead of half-empty.

In leadership, we are encouraged to choose optimism, especially in leading ourselves.

We cannot control external situations or conditions, but we can control our mental attitude towards them.

Start with a vision: Having a clear goal, such as reaching the summit in mountain hiking, helps maintain focus.

Remember your why: Recalling the reason for pursuing a challenging task, such as hiking, helps push through adversity.

See the good in others: Focusing on the positive aspects of team members helps maintain optimism.

Refuse to dwell on circumstances: Avoid letting difficult conditions overwhelm you mentally and emotionally.

Smile often: Smiling triggers positive emotions and helps maintain optimism.

Don’t make a big deal out of small things: Over-exaggerating small issues leads to negativity and loss of optimism.

Believe people can change: Leaders should maintain optimism by believing in the potential for team members to improve.

Refuse to tolerate negative and critical team members: Reject negative thinking to stay positive and optimistic.

Motion is the source of emotion: Physical actions like smiling can influence emotional states and lead to optimism.

Optimism in leadership involves seeing challenges as opportunities to grow, rather than obstacles.