Leadership Article - Characterists of Tough Minded Optimists

Hello Everyone,
As I mentioned in my last blog entry, I wanted to share a few leadership articles with you. If you are serving in a volunteer leadership role for AALNC - thank you!!  If you are not involved in AALNC at the local or national level, I encourage you to do so.  I think you will find it very rewarding, both on a personal and professional level.   

While in Chicago for a Board of Directors meeting, Sharon and I had the opportunity to meet with Henry Givray, President & CEO of Smith Bucklin, AALNC's management company.  During our meeting, he shared this article with us.  I thought it was an inspiring read - short and to the point.    You may have seen the info from the power of optimism before, but this version also includes commentary written by Henry Givray. 

See below. 
Karen

Karen J. Huff, BSN RN LNCC
AALNC President

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12 Characteristics of Tough-Minded Optimists


From “The Power of Optimism” by Alan Loy McGinnis, 1990
Commentary by Henry Givray, 2009

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.”
― Helen Keller

1. Are seldom surprised by trouble.

Tough-minded optimists recognize and embrace the premise that problems are part of life. However, they see themselves as able and willing to be problem solvers. They do this by developing and presenting ideas and options which help solve problems. And tough-minded optimists are resilient in pressing forward until they get to where they knew they would eventually get to – success.

2. Look for partial solutions.

Waiting until you have 100 percent of the facts or the perfect solution before you act will result in inaction, missed opportunities or even paralysis. Tough-minded optimists don’t wait until everything is perfectly in order or known before they take action. They know that “beginning is half the doing.” They aren’t crippled by a need for perfection. Instead they are willing to take small steps toward eventual success. Toughminded optimists inherently understand that thoughtful action is far better than inaction or “analysis paralysis,” which solves nothing.

3. Believe they have control over their futures.

Optimistic thinking inherently boosts self-confidence and encourages determination. Optimistic people don’t let others’ opinions solely determine how they view the current or future state of affairs.

4. Allow for regular renewal.

I interpret this as mental, social and physical renewal. Mental renewal is about learning and continuous
education. Social renewal is about making a special effort to get acquainted with new people as well as
nurturing existing relationships. Physical renewal is of course about being and staying healthy by eating
right and exercising.

5. Interrupt their negative trains of thought.

For me, this simply means that as human beings we will at times have negative thoughts or self-doubt no matter how naturally optimistic or positive we may be. The key is to work at being self-aware while
constantly monitoring our response to other people, circumstances, conditions on the ground or new
information. Negative thoughts often distort our understanding of problems or issues at hand. Distortion
leads to blockage in finding solutions or charting courses of action. Another interesting implication of this principle is this: by blocking or shedding negative thoughts or preconceptions we are more open to give trust and the benefit of doubt, which in turn builds trust with others.

6. Heighten their powers of appreciation.

This is about possessing and demonstrating a genuine and heartfelt “thank you” approach, both in words and in actions. Optimists tend to see the good in people, the positives in situations and the beauty around them. This in turn fosters trust and a positive response from others, which is especially helpful during difficult and trying times.

7. Use their imaginations to rehearse success.

By definition, pessimists view the world through a prism of danger, angst and failure. Tough-minded
optimists picture a desired state of the future and are confident to go about and make it happen. They
develop positive images to minimize or replace the natural anxiety of uncertainty. But tough-minded
optimists are also realistic in their visualizations. They are comfortably able to adjust downward, as
needed, to make their “images” more believable.

8. Are cheerful even when they can’t be happy.

I believe this is especially critical for anyone in a position of authority or responsibility who aspires to be an effective leader. In fact, during trying times, a leader’s optimism lifts spirits, gives hope and builds strength in others. Following this principle doesn’t mean you should be artificial or take on a what-meworry, head-in-the-sand persona. It simply means that tough-minded optimists always have the “bigger picture” in mind. They recognize that their attitude can and will have an impact (sometimes profound) on the people around them, which can either enable or inhibit performance, results, and problem solving.

9. Believe they have an almost unlimited capacity for stretching.

Tough-minded optimists believe (and act accordingly) that they are on a perpetual journey of selfimprovement, learning and discovery; their attitude is “my personal best is yet to come.” They are
constantly pushing, stretching, leveraging to grow, finding new ways to do things and developing
themselves. This is not about Pollyanna positive thinking but more about recognizing that the mind, heart and soul offer limitless opportunities and potential.

10. Build lots of love into their lives.

Cynical or negative people knowingly or unknowingly isolate themselves and end up being alone much of the time. During times of great difficulty and challenge, personally or professionally, tough-minded
optimists recognize the power of love and friendship to heal, nurture and renew. McGinnis wrote “love
nurtures optimism.” The reverse is true – hostility leads to cynicism and pessimism.

11. Like to swap good news.

How and what we talk about affects our state of mental and physical being. Sharing success stories
builds excitement, is great for morale and can be educational.

12. Accept what cannot be changed.

Even the biggest optimist has to know there is a point to not “throwing good money after bad.” Perseverance is powerful, but not accepting what cannot be changed can be costly as other opportunities drift away. Simply stated, tough-minded optimists ask “is there anything I can do to change the situation?”  If the answer is “no,” then they let it go and move on.

© Copyright 2009 SmithBucklin Corporation. All rights reserved.

August Board Meeting Update

Hello Everyone,
The AALNC Board of Directors held our summer Board meeting  in Chicago recently.    We had a very productive meeting.    
We completed a thorough review of the 2011 budget, which was then approved by the Board.  Marianne Hallas, AALNC Secretary/Treasurer, did a great job of leading us through the budget process with the support of our staff.  The entire process was done differently this year and worked very well.  There are several new ideas on the horizon; I look forward to updating you on those changes in the future. 

Another key highlight from our meeting was a thorough review of the strategic plan, with updates to our Plan of Work and goals for 2011.  An ongoing evaluation of where we are and where we need to be is important to the health of the organization.  It was great to reflect on how much we have accomplished so far this year.   

The meeting concluded with a brain storming session about new revenue streams for AALNC.  The board members were very engaged in the process, and many geat ideas were discussed!  All in all it was a great meeting, and I returned home feeling very optimistic about our future.

Another highlight from the weekend was the opportunity to represent AALNC at a meeting wtih Henry Givray, President & CEO of Smith Bucklin.  Sharon McQuown, President Elect, and Kaye Englebrecht, AALNC Executive Director, attended the special meeting with me.  The discussion centered on association leadership, association trends (especially in light of the economy), and ideas for growth.  Henry shared several inspiring articles, including ,"7 Things only a Board of Directors Can Do" and "12 Characteristics of Tough-Minded Optimists."  The latter is a new favorite of mine; I read a few quotes to the Board for inspiration during the meeting. 

I hope to tell you more about these articles in a future post.     

Karen

Karen J. Huff, BSN RN LNCC
AALNC President