Keep working the room..

I love working with teams of people, and often find both optimists and pessimists among them.

 

·      I’m an optimist and always see the glass as half full.

·      I can usually inspire people to think optimistically.

·      At least while I’m working with them.

 

A leader’s role is to guide and inspire others. It can sometimes get complicated because every person and situation is unique, meaning one size rarely fits everyone. That’s why the most effective leaders begin by analyzing the people and situations they encounter – that usually starts by asking basic questions, listening to people’s perspectives, and making sure everyone is heard. A pessimist might see difficulty in that, but an optimist will find opportunities to get people engaged. You must have patience to make this work – don’t look for right or wrong and find things to build upon. Life and work are complicated, and everyone today seems to want to give their opinion – when they do, ask them to expand on that and how it applies to the situation at hand. Encourage them to acknowledge differences of opinion and look for common ground. That’s the best way to get people to agree on an objective and work on doing great things together today.

 

Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965): British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.