Normally when we think of positivity we think of a positive mental environment, which was the subject of HERBISM #8. That kind of positivity is important, but the subject here is about a leader helping their people believe that something is [realistically] possible.

For example great leaders do not put forward goals they themselves don’t believe are achievable. Faced with unrealistic targets most people shut down rather than rise to the occasion.

This is also not just optimism. In fact, positivity is much more helpful than optimism. To demonstrate the point I am reminded of an interview I heard with a P.O.W. who survived many years in very difficult conditions as a prisoner of war. When asked what kinds of people are most likely to survive as P.O.W.s he answered, “positive realists.” He said that the optimists started by saying they would be rescued in a month. When that didn’t happen they said they would be rescued by Christmas. When that didn’t happen they said by Easter. They kept telling themselves a rescue was imminent, even though they had no basis for that perspective. He said the problem with optimism is that it is not rooted in reality and eventually people lose hope. The positive realists face the reality of their situation and choose to do positive things in spite of their situation. In other words, the positive realists make the best of their difficult situation.

Great leaders lead with positivity in five significant ways: