Decades of research have demonstrated the power of optimism. Most of us are wired to be optimists, and that’s a good thing. Optimists are demonstrably more healthy and live longer. They have a lower risk for cardiovascular disease. Their survival and recovery rates are better.
Optimism helps in the workplace, too. Forbes reports that employees are significantly more motivated to give it their all when they’re optimistic.
So why am I praising the workplace pessimist?
Like any personality trait, pessimism and optimism both have their strengths and pitfalls. Generally speaking, we hope to be realists, but few of us fall fully into this category. And while you may lean optimistic or pessimistic, it doesn’t mean you’re always going to be that way. It is just, for the most part, how you view the world.
Don’t feel like your pessimism always has to rain on the parade. The strength of smart pessimism helps your team avoid serious risks and pitfalls.
3 Ways Pessimism Can Benefit the Workplace
Risk Identification
Perhaps your best strength as a pessimist is your ability to identify risks. While not all optimists are blind to risk, they might be tempted to minimize it. Pessimists are excellent at looking at an issue from all angles and anticipating the unexpected. When you comb over every eventuality, you identify where a plan needs to tighten up or pivot.
Managing Expectations
A healthy dose of pessimism allows you the manage your expectations. You don’t expect any given project to be a “big break.” You don’t anticipate your life to change overnight. Optimists run the risk of unrealistic expectations about their job and ability. Pessimists are more likely to have a realistic view of their skills, their role, and their company.
Motivation
While optimism can be motivating, so can pessimism. Pessimism isn’t the same as being depressed or being defeatist. Pessimists just anticipate the worst outcomes. If this is the case, you’re likely to work harder to ensure that they don’t happen. Pessimists are more motivated to improve themselves and give their full attention and effort to any given project. They don’t want things to fail. As a result, they’re going to go that much farther to execute projects the right way.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Demoralizing the Team
Pessimism can negatively impact your team. Resist the urge to shut down every idea and suggestion thrown your way. Pessimism can absolutely blind you to real, viable possibilities. Avoid the temptation to turn into the office doomsayer. After all, your pessimism must be tempered with logic and rationale.
Phantom Problems
Sometimes pessimists see problems that don’t really exist. Even if they do exist, they might be blown out of proportion. Be aware of your own inherent bias in how you see and interpret the world. Your risk analysis is invaluable, but your ability to see problems where there are none is not.
The Ideal Balance
Ideally, you have a healthy balance of optimism and pessimism in your life. You are realistic but encouraging. You have hope for the future but an awareness of the risks. Pessimism can be utilized effectively in the workplace, but it does take a toll.
Optimism is demonstrably the more healthy way to look at life.
However, that healthy dose of pessimism allows you to navigate the world more cautiously. That caution is something we need in a world of cavalier entrepreneurs with stars in their eyes and unrealistic expectations.
As a part-time pessimist, you can be a voice of reason when the hype becomes too much.
At the same time, the pessimist needs to be able to negotiate and communicate with gentleness and encouragement. Pessimism doesn’t mean shutting everyone and everything down. Healthy pessimism is analytical and effective.
Unhealthy pessimism paralyzes progress.
If you have pessimistic tendencies, nurture your inner optimist. It will help you find balance. The same goes for the optimists in the room — a pinch of pessimism can help you avoid a lot of heartache and disappointment when the best of outcomes don’t happen.
At the end of the day, our workplaces need both optimists and pessimists to keep morale high and ambitions bold — but risk minimal and expectations realistic.
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Share how it impacts your workflow in the comments.