Over the past fortnight much of the world has been getting excited at the prospect of a new Administration in Washington DC. The advent of a vibrant and charismatic leader with a messianic aura and outstanding communication skills has certainly captured the world’s imagination. And this is a world that is going through some very tough times. As President Obama settles into his new home, the weight of these challenges and those ahead, seem to fall increasingly onto his proverbial shoulders. The world’s well-being is becoming his responsibility!
As wide as these shoulders may be, the last thing we want is for the weight of the world’s problems to break his back – or the spirit of hope that he has created. Being positive and hopeful are characteristics in short supply at the moment – whether that be in business, the media, government, banks or among economists! I think that we have to hope that one of the characteristic differences between the US and UK cultures kicks in over the next few months. In Britain, we build ‘em up and then knock ‘em down. In the US, where I was born, success is envied less and the idea of ‘the American Dream’ means that when you get to the top there are less people trying to bring you back down again. Let’s hope this holds true for Obama!
We have to stay positive even if there are more economic shocks and other setbacks ahead. If we have learned anything over the last few years from the field of positive psychology, it is that having a ‘glass half empty’or ‘doom and gloom’ attitude characterised by negativity is not the answer to dealing with problems. Yes, we need to acknowledge the reality and depth of the economic situation, problems at work and in other aspects of our lives, but acknowledgement does not equate to wallowing! Rather, it should be the first step in exploring new ways of coping, before identifying a range of options and finding novel and constructive solutions.
This is what we need in the world of business right now – not retrenchment and self-protective cost cutting for security’s sake, but innovative ways of thinking about our products, services and ways in which we can buck the trend. It’s a matter of harnessing our manpower and finding some Dunkirk spirit. We need to help our leaders, whether in business or politics, to change the psychology of despair into a psychology of hope. This can be done by emphasising the positive where it exists; taking calculated risks at work rather than retreating; leading rather than just managing and consciously raising the bar higher than we would have done even in the good times.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “the reward of a thing well done, is to have done it”. So rather than sitting around worrying about negative predictions, let’s get out there and do it!
Posted by Cary Cooper 
