Positive thinking can be a good thing . . .
. . . but it can go too far.
Here are signs – from a recent article in Harvard Business Review – that your boss or someone you know, may be entering the Toxic Positivity zone.
*They surround themselves with “Yes People.” If you have people around you who are unwilling to share a potential downside then you are going to make some mistakes. I once asked a friend who was pursuing a risky goal, “What are your back-up plans if this does not work out?” His response: “Failure is not an option.” But it turns out he did fail and his team was stressed as they frantically tried to figure out what to do.
*They provide excessive praise. “You are superwoman!” Maybe you are, but this statement just before a bunch of extra work is dumped on you is not appreciated. “I know this team can pull this off.” It’s nice to be encouraging, but this kind of comment when they team has just lost a couple of key people and the deadline has been shifted to make the assignment very challenging – is not the way to go. Instead, get them additional resources and renegotiate the deadline.
*They expect people to be happy – no matter the circumstances. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” is a fun song, but leaders need to have enough emotional intelligence to know when people have real concerns you need to acknowledge. A wise person once told me that there is a big difference between a chocolate covered “cow pie” and a chocolate covered donut. If you are dealing with a “cow pie,” then it is better to name it rather than make believe it does not exist.
Lots of great research has been done on the value of optimism (read more here), but Dr. Martin Seligman who pioneered the idea of Learned Optimism, points out its limitations. Seligman recommends using “flexible optimism” in which you are willing to ask your resident pessimists about the downsides and seriously consider them before moving forward with a plan.
Negative thinking can definitely wreck the spirit of a team or organization, but being overly positive can do the same. Find some balance as you pursue your Mission Impact.
*Ideas for this blog taken from: Mallick, M. “Does Your Boss Practice Toxic Positivity,” Harvard Business Review online, May 24, 2024.
