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Calm leadership: Optimism during challenging times

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At times as a school leader, optimism can be hard to find and yet an attitude of optimism is a key tenet of effective leadership. Patrick Cozier continues his series on how to be a calm school leader

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. I am talking about a gung-ho attitude that says ‘we can change things here, we can achieve awesome goals, we can be the best’.”
American statesman Colin Powell

 

It was 2010 and I was in my fourth year of headship. My then school business manager popped his head into my office: “Patrick, have you got a few minutes? I need to tell you something.”

By the look on his face and his solemn tone, I knew it was not good news. I remember having that tight knot in the pit of my stomach. He proceeded to inform me that despite our previous calculations, he had done the maths again and was projecting a near £500,000 deficit. I did not see it coming. I was devastated.

It was a new situation for me. I did not have the first clue how to deal with it. I spoke to some trusted colleagues and to my professional association. The advice was varied, thought-provoking and ultimately helpful.

Once I got a sense of what I needed to do, as daunting as it was, I focused and told myself: “You can do this! You’ve got this!”

I sowed the seeds of optimism. It was all I needed to get thinking and get going.

It was hard work for sure, but by 2014 we were out of deficit. It was a dark period for me, but getting through it taught me that having a positive and optimistic vision is critical to maintaining our purpose, motivation, and energy.

 

Calm leadership: A nine-part SecEd series

Patrick Cozier’s nine-part SecEd series on calm leadership is publishing all this year:

 

Why is optimism so important?

“For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use being anything else.”
Sir Winston Churchill

 

Ever since Pauline Ashbee, my predecessor at Highgate Wood School, reminded me that “you can choose what you think”, I have made it my goal to choose optimistic and positive thoughts.

In leadership your mindset is crucial, and optimism is crucial for calm leadership because it enhances emotional stability, resilience, motivation, problem-solving abilities, relationship-building, and adaptive leadership skills.

By embodying optimism, you can create a positive and productive work environment, especially in challenging circumstances.

 

Emotional stability: Optimistic leaders are more likely to remain emotionally stable in challenging situations. They can maintain a sense of calmness and composure, which is essential for effective decision-making and problem-solving. By staying calm, you can inspire confidence and reassurance among your team members, preventing panic or anxiety from spreading.

The anxiety and negative anticipation that can be created by having a pessimistic outlook is lethal. That feeling of dread or worry causes a level of fear and paralysis that can be contagious and demotivating. Remember, the anticipation is nearly always worse than the reality, so be positive.

Resilience: Optimistic leaders tend to be more resilient in the face of adversity. They believe in the likelihood of finding solutions and overcoming obstacles, even at difficult times. Their positive outlook helps them persevere and maintains their focus on long-term goals. This resilience is crucial for guiding your team through turbulent situations.

This was evident to me as we worked through the budget deficit. We had to make some tough decisions during that time – decisions which had an impact on people’s lives. Some of the decisions led to conflict and dispute with the teaching union and strike action ensued.

Maintaining the ability to be positive, empowered and calm depends on how we respond to those things which we cannot control. How we deal with negative events and how we process things is a determining factor in what we believe, how we act, and what we do.

Motivation: Optimism is contagious. Leaders who exude optimism can inspire and motivate their team members, even in challenging circumstances. By remaining positive and demonstrating faith in their team's abilities, leaders can encourage colleagues to remain focused, committed, and work towards achieving shared objectives. An optimistic outlook provides hope, purpose, and motivation.

Problem-solving: Optimistic leaders approach problems with a constructive mindset. Rather than dwelling on the negatives, they seek opportunities for growth and improvement. This optimistic perspective enables them to identify creative solutions and navigate obstacles. It encourages open communication and collaboration within the team, as members feel more comfortable sharing ideas and working together to find solutions.

Resonance with others: Optimistic leaders tend to build stronger relationships with their team members and stakeholders. Their positive attitude and outlook create a sense of trust, credibility, and approachability. People are more likely to follow leaders who radiate optimism and have faith in the future. This approach fosters a positive work environment, encourages open dialogue, and promotes a sense of unity and camaraderie.

In article five, I emphasised that leadership is about people. This is why optimism in leadership is so important. Given the choice of who to follow, it is difficult to imagine that someone would choose pessimism over compelling, hope-building, optimism.

Adaptive leadership: Calm leaders who embrace optimism are better equipped to adapt to change and uncertainty. They will see opportunities in new situations more easily and help their team navigate transitions smoothly. Optimistic leaders can effectively manage ambiguity and provide a sense of calm and confidence, even when circumstances are uncertain (which is often the case in leadership). This adaptability allows them to guide their team through turbulent times while maintaining a productive work environment.

 

So, how do you become an optimistic leader?

Some people are more naturally optimistic than others. Fortunately, optimism is a mindset that can be nurtured and strengthened through intentional practice.

By incorporating gratitude and a sense of perspective, positive self-talk, surrounding ourselves with positive influences, setting achievable goals, and practising kindness, we can generate and sustain optimism in our lives.

Remember, optimism is not about denying life's challenges but rather developing the resilience and positive outlook needed to overcome them.

 

Gratitude and a sense of perspective: Gratitude and a sense of perspective are two of the key pillars of calm leadership (see article two). Remembering that there is always someone who would gladly swap their troubles with yours is a great way to remain calm, empowered and focused on what you are trying to achieve. Remembering and focusing on just how much you have going for you is an effective way to generate optimism.
There is a temptation to “awfulise” (my made-up word) everything in leadership. This must be resisted as it only leads to negativity and stress.

It is a cliché, but it’s true: it is usually never as bad as we think. I am a strong believer that things could always be worse, which means that none of us are starting on zero – we are already advanced in our journeys and that is great reason to be grateful and optimistic.

Embrace positive self-talk: The words we say to ourselves shape our thoughts and beliefs. Embrace positive self-talk by consciously replacing negative thoughts with encouraging and affirming statements. Instead of dwelling on failures or setbacks, focus on your strengths and past successes. By reframing your inner dialogue, you can create a more optimistic and empowering mental environment.

In article three of this series, which discussed imposter syndrome, I included a table with examples of how to change the narrative of the inner voice that we all have – revisit this table now and think about changing your negative thoughts into positives…

 

Surround yourself with positive influences: There is a Japanese proverb: “When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.” The people we spend time with significantly impact our mindset. Seek out individuals who radiate positivity and optimism. Engage in conversations that uplift, inspire, and encourage growth. Surrounding yourself with positive influences creates an environment that fosters optimism and motivates you to see difficult problems as opportunities rather than obstacles.

Set realistic goals and celebrate progress: Setting achievable goals is a powerful way to instil optimism in our lives. Break-down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps, and celebrate each milestone along the way. Recognising progress, no matter how small, fuels a sense of accomplishment and reinforces the belief that success is attainable. By acknowledging and celebrating your achievements, you can create the habit of continued and perpetual optimism.

Engage in acts of kindness: Practising acts of kindness towards others can have a profound impact on our own optimism. Whether it is volunteering, helping a friend in need, or simply offering a smile, acts of kindness generate positive emotions and reinforce a sense of connection. When we contribute to the wellbeing of others, we experience a deep sense of fulfilment and positivity, fostering optimism within ourselves.Bottom of Form

 

Final thought

As ever, I will leave you with a couple of activities/challenges until my next article:

Consider the advice above about how to become optimistic: Choose any two of the techniques described and write a few notes on what you can do starting from tomorrow to practise those strategies and make them a regular part of what you do and how you think.

Reflection: Think of two or three people who you know who are always optimistic. What is the impact that their optimism has on you when you are in their presence? What might you learn from their example?

  • Patrick Cozier is an experienced secondary school headteacher of 16 years. He leads Highgate Wood School in Haringey. In addition to his day job, he chairs the Haringey Secondary Heads’ Forum and takes a leading role in the work of the Racial Equity Group (part of the Haringey Education Partnership). He serves as a trustee for the charity Show Racism the Red Card As a member of the black community, he is passionate about seeking equality, justice, and fair outcomes for people of colour. He is currently developing his “Calm Leadership” approach. Find Patrick on Twitter @CalmLeadership and LinkedIn. Read his previous articles for SecEd and find his appearances on the SecEd Podcast, via https://bit.ly/seced-cozier