Get real

'Get real', 'take a reality check' etc. It is not just at work, but in our culture as a whole, that being 'realistic' means to take a negative view, as if anything good is somehow not real. To see the positive is to be naive, vulnerable and childish, whist to see only the negative is realistic, grown up and informed.

I once worked for a director who motivated his team by generating a culture of 'relentless dissatisfaction'. I am sure you can imagine how motivated we were by continually hearing that nothing we did was good enough.

In truth, what this approach gives us is an incomplete view of reality and stifles thinking. Consider how it affected you the last time someone told you that you had done some specific thing well. Not just a general 'you're great' but specfic, sincere appreciation of something you had done or some quality in you. Did you feel more confident about tackling problems? Could you think better for a while afterwards? Did you manage to avoid turning into a raging egomaniac? Thought so.

What difference would it make to your team if you told them, specifically, what you had noticed them doing well before you asked them what they thought needed to be done differently?

P.S. Once you have started to see the good close to you, get some inspiration for the good in the world from http://reasonstobehopeful.blogspot.com/