Moment-to-Moment Optimism

By Dr. Russ,

Today, I begin with the question:

Is the school of the future going to be able to prepare students for the workplace of the future?

Bring in the New! Out with the Old!

The future is nearly upon us.  Future organizations will have to be much more flexible and fluid in structure, goals and action strategies than the current “old school” organization.

• The hierarchy is out; the hub will be in.  
• The leader will not order, but will collaborate.  
• Look for collaborative problem solving with equality of input and focus on the best solution.
• Forget about whose idea it was.  
• Challenging goals, yes even failure and mistakes will be encouraged as these will be seen as necessary experiences for growth and new, great ideas.  
• Group problem solving and risk taking will be encouraged. 
• Experimentation and failure will be rewarded as a means to more creative solutions to problems.
• Each employee will be valued for the potential of their unique contribution to the growth and development of the organization.  
• The pace of change will continue to increase at astronomical and exponential rates. 
• There will be no room for the organization to stand pat and stay the same. 
• The norm will be continuous adaptation to a changing environment on a near daily basis.
• Organizations that define themselves in terms of a narrow range of “measurable” goals will find they are quickly out of touch with their markets.
• For example, the office furniture company that fails to recognize the changing way work gets done in the future will be left wondering why no one is buying the modular/cubicle walls or large desks with overstuffed chairs; will find themselves plumb out of business.

Our schools are still structured according to the “Old School Model.” 

Around 1920, high schools grew in size and organization to fit the emerging “factory model” of the industrial revolution.

• An internal hierarchy of subjects was created with math and science at the top and the arts at the bottom. 
• Curriculum’s were standardized and delivered in a mass production format. 
• There was a narrow definition of success defined in terms of academic ability, completion of work on-time, intolerance of mistakes, individualism, and competition. 
• Most importantly, the public schools were meant to prepare students for the culture of the factory workplace that emphasized following the company way, lock-step, on time, en mass, and without question. 

The New School Model

If we want the school of the future to prepare students for the workplace of tomorrow significant changes will need to occur in the organization, content and delivery of instruction. 

• Teachers will need to be trained in new skills. 
• Instead of chairs organized in rows with everyone working on the same worksheet, we will see students working in groups on challenging problems that have multiple possible correct or workable solutions in flexibly organized space. 
• Students will be valued not only for their academic ability, but for their ability to think creatively, to communicate ideas, to facilitate collaboration, to think non-verbally and in visual-spatial as well as verbal domains.  
• Teachers will focus on how to learn from mistakes rather than how to avoid them.  
• Facts and core subject mater knowledge will be quickly obtained off the internet and then made useful for problem solving.  
• Students will be valued for the unique individuality as one student uses her artistic talent to contribute to the solution, another, his math skills, and a third her keen political/social awareness.  
• Each student will learn from the other in a community of experimentation and appreciation of hard work and “mastery.”

The Optimism of the New School

Note how the school and organization of the future will reflect the Dr. Russ Buss core principles of optimism that focus on opportunity seeking, process goals, taking on tough challenges, flexibility of thinking and approach, use of imagination and creativity, sharing and communication, and problem solving.


By Dr. Russ,

In continued celebration of a year of daily blogging since last April of 2009, I am posting this encore presentation on building a culture of optimism in an organization.

Dr. Russ Buss has attempted to synthesize some core principles of optimism presented by Michael J. Fox in his new book, Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, that can serve as guidelines for building and maintaining an Optimistic Organization; one that exudes a “Culture of Optimism.”

1. The Optimistic Organization actively counteracts negativity with positivity. The organization imbues the attitude and belief that it is not what happens to you, but how you view it that matters. As Michael J. Fox has taught us: We may not always have a choice about some of our circumstances in life, but we always have a choice about how we view them.
2. Optimistic workplaces create environments where everyone can share and exchange creative ideas; where individuals can explore, experience and immerse themselves in states of “relaxed-detachment” to promote creative incubation.
3. An Optimistic work-culture empowers individuals to accept, embrace, and deal with change. Adapting to change is viewed as an opportunity for individual and organizational growth. Training and development programs teach and prepare individuals to let go of outdated and now dysfunctional habits and personas, while actively supporting a workplace belief that the “inner self” can mount the effort and ability necessary to take on tough challenges.
4. Optimistic Organizations are not afraid to take risks. The culture encourages and empowers value-based, reasonable risk-taking, i.e., no short cuts, bring out best efforts and abilities people have to offer.
5. Every individual in the optimistic organization believes they have a purpose and mission within the organization.  The individuals can endorse the statement: My organization actively promotes: “The purpose that you wish to find in life requires the faith to take risks and a rejection of the bonds of fear; purpose is something for which one is responsible.” (Michael J. Fox, P. 178) Individuals are valued for efforts at self-improvement and constant re-birth and self-reinvention.
6. Optimistic organizations train and make available role models of optimistic thinking to provide guidance and mentoring to new and old employees. Note: The best golfers in the world are known to take more golf lessons everyday than the amateurs who could really use them. So, to maintain Great Optimism we need ongoing Optimistic Mentoring. The environment is one in which the individual is extremely comfortable, without any fear of stigma and ridicule, in seeking and asking for help anytime, anywhere.
7. Optimistic Organizations avoid “Group Think” by actively encouraging the expression and debate of a variety and opposing perspectives. When such a culture of diversity of input exists, individuals more naturally take responsibility for their choices, work hard to implement them, accept that a revision of choice and goals are needed when progress is limited, and are not afraid to make the “tough choices.”
8. In evaluating the individual’s strengths and weaknesses the Optimistic Organization does “performance appraisal” in the optimistic manner: assessment of strengths and weaknesses is done relative to accomplishment of specific short and long term goals – Task Orientation Focus.  The performance appraisal is not done in a pessimistic manner where the assessment of strengths and weaknesses is done relative to a personal or ego comparison: how the individual “stacks up” against other individuals or some ideal (but unrealistic) persona – Ego Orientation Focus.
9. Optimistic organizations take the “high road” when making decisions, sticking to the core values and principles of “Optimism.”
10. Optimistic Organizations recognize the core importance of stable family structures to the maintenance of an optimistic perspective in life and in the organization - each and every moment. As such, they promote policies that encourage family time together, teach core communication skills that help families work to stay together, and provide mutual support to the members.



William Henry Nurmi II has a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a MBA from the University of Phoenix. Bill has a background in operations management, logistics, and sales. Bill is an avid bicyclist and is a volunteer on the board of directors at the Mission of Hope Cancer Fund. He lives in Lansing, MI and is currently seeking new employment while serving as a Post-Graduate and Career Transition Fellow of Optimism with Moment-to-Moment Enterprises.  Bill’s Fellowship project entails writing about optimism and providing advice and consultation on marketing, sales, and new program development.  Today’s post is the nineteenth in a series that Bill is writing under the title: "The Diary of a Struggling Optimist."

The Time Has Come to Make a Decision

This week has been marked by some tough times and good times.  I wrote many weeks ago about having to make some decisions about whether to accept a job to “get me by” in the meantime until I found one that I feel is going to be “long term,” if we can even define that term anymore these days. 

Take a Number

I walked into the unemployment office at the corner of Cedar and Jolly yesterday morning. After I sat there in the chair that was about as comfortable as sitting on a log in a swamp, I stared into the red monitor of what number was to be called next and zoned out until they called me, I was #97. 

I was then informed that my unemployment will not be extended beyond the end of April, which does not make me particularly happy, but, such is life.  I am considering implementing a new policy in my life of paying my bills with the “take a number” system they use at the unemployment office; this way they will all get paid in the order in which they were received, due dates will no longer be taken into consideration.  Of course this won’t work, it’s just a fantasy.  Without the unemployment benefits extension, I am faced with making some of those decisions I spoke of some time ago.  Where to get a part time job, or two, to make ends meet? 

Opportunity Comes Knocking

One strange coincidence did happen yesterday while I was eating a bowl of cereal for lunch, (small food budget):  After hearing the news about the unemployment ending, I headed home to feel sorry for myself for a little while, when I received an email with a part time job offer (one of my back up plans came to fruition).  I have not decided if I am going to accept it or not at this point, but I have to by this Sunday, so I will let everybody know next week. 

I am trying to decide if this is just a coincidence that the bad news and a job offer came on the same day or if it is a sign and I am meant to take this job as it may lead to more opportunity in the future.  I have said before that life is what happens while we make other plans, and this could be a case of that.  More to come on this…

Committed to Making the Most of Connections

I now have a LinkedIn “app” on my Blackberry; it is great!  Now I can receive messages, accept contact requests, and send contact requests without having to make sure I am at the computer. I only had the app for a day when somebody that I have known for some time sent a LinkedIn contact request.  I am not sure why we not connected before, but we are connected now nevertheless.  I was able to accept the request while at a stop light on Grand River in East Lansing.  In a world where we are becoming accustomed to doing everything NOW, this is going to be very useful.  If you are a police officer, I was not moving the vehicle when I accepted the invitation, so please don’t give me a citation for it.

Adding Pressure to the Waiting Game

There has been no word back yet on whether I was selected to move forward in the interview process with the insurance company that I was screened for last week.  I am by nature a bit of an impatient person, thus I am chomping at the bit of whether they are going to call me or not! Come on people; let’s get the ball rolling on this.  This also poses a problem with accepting a position that is a part time contingency plan. I do not want to accept and then have to decline if I receive another full time offer for a job that I am really looking forward to having the opportunity to do.  I can’t decline an offer based simply on a “what if,” but it is a consideration because I do not want to come off as unprofessional by quitting after 2 weeks worth of work! 

The Michigan Works groups are kicking off this week; as a matter of fact the first one was yesterday.  This makes me happy; I wanted to attend the first one yesterday but was unable to go due to a few things coming up.  There are several categories/industries that each group pertains to; check it out here to get details so you can attend or tell others about the group.

Reframing the Week with Optimism 

Even though I have had some bad news come this week, it is not the end of the world as I have made enough plans ahead of time to take care of some of these circumstances.  I have to admit, the unemployment news was not taken well at first, but I then realized after some time that I have the choice to act in an optimistic manner and proceed.

We’ve all heard that when one door closes, another opens, and I think that perhaps this part-time offer may be (I didn’t say it IS), the door opening to a new and promising future, which sure is exciting.  I hope the proverbial door is opening for me because being out here in the hall can get old after a while.

BN


By Dr. Russ,

Wednesday is “Just One Thing Day.”  It is the day I answer the oft asked question:  “Please, please Dr. Russ can you tell me ‘just one more thing’ so I can get one more moment of optimism into my day?  The answer is the “Optimism Tip of the Week.”

Dr. Russ Buss Optimism Tip of the Week

You DO get OPTIMISM CREDIT for “just showing up.”  But, you get OPTIMISM EXTRA CREDIT for "showing up and working the ‘crowd.’”

What is an OPTIMISM CREDIT?  ~ It is a self-created opportunity to engage in a process of optimistic inspiration in a given moment through imaginative sharing that has the potential to “make things happen.”

What is OPTIMISM EXTRA CREDIT? ~ It incorporates all of the above under “Optimism Credit” with the addition and multiplication effects that result from “taking a risk” to meet someone new, listen instead of talk, try out a new idea on the crowd, foster a new or deepen an existing relationship.

“SHOWING-UP” means you have created an opportunity for a connection of optimism to occur; a new or expanded possibility.  Taking the RISK of “WORKING THE CROWD” meeting new people, meeting  one on one, speaking to the group, displaying wares, volunteering to do something for the group, or performing for the crowd has the potential to create a huge EXTRA CREDIT multiplier effect.

Seven Tips to Build Optimism with Extra Credit

1.    You get CREDIT for posting a blog once in awhile - you SHOWED-UP on the Web.  You get EXTRA CREDIT for writing a blog 3-5 times a week for 52 weeks.  The sheer effort or writing that many posts is hard work and has the potential to reach a crowd.

2.    You get CREDIT for attending a face-to-face networking event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, or Business Network International.  You get EXTRA CREDIT when you meet others you do not know or know well and ask them about their profession or business, then listen and ask a follow-up question or two before talking about yourself.

3.    Some 2,700 Olympic athletes got CREDIT for showing up and competing.  Every one of those athletes who obtained a “personal best” time or performance got EXTRA CREDIT.

4.    Apolo Ohno SHOWED-UP and hung back in forth place in the 1,500 meter short track Olympic race.  He was in a strategic position to earn the EXTRA CREDIT when two of the three Koreans ahead of him got tangled up, fell and were out of the race; leaving Apolo the opportunity to win a Silver and get his EXTRA CREDIT.

5.    When I was a beginning graduate student at Indiana University quite a few years ago, not knowing a soul, I took the RISK OF SHOWING-UP at some department social functions that summer, pushed myself to be more extroverted than I felt, and obtained the EXTRA CREDIT REWARD of being invited to be a teaching assistant when a last minute opportunity occurred.

6.    Our “Struggling Optimist” has reported on his struggles to push himself to SHOW-UP at networking events to make connections for job opportunities.  If he DOES NOT SHOW-UP there is no opportunity.  If he does the EXTRA CREDIT, he creates the possibility for a multitude of opportunities.

7.    I have attended a weekly business meeting for nearly five years.  Once in five years, my alarm failed to go off, I overslept; woke up a few minutes before the meeting was supposed to start.  I thought for a moment about NOT SHOWING-UP, not wanting to RISK the embarrassment of being late.  Then thought better of it, and arrived twenty minutes late into a 90 minute meeting.  At the end of the meeting my name was drawn as winner of the weekly door prize: I received the EXTRA CREDIT of dinner for two at a lovely restaurant!!!

Skilled optimists create the opportunity for luck to happen by SHOWING-UP, and when they take a RISK AND WORK THE CROWD they move from creating to actually  MAKING THEIR OWN LUCK.

By Dr. Russ

Does the media hype for the 2010 Winter Olympics have us over-focused on winning GOLD at the expense of Optimism?  COULD too much emphasis on WINNING MEDALS, THE MEDAL COUNT, and BEING THE COUNTRY WITH THE MOST MEDALS actually UNDERMINE our OPTIMISM?

In my blog of a week ago, I raised the question of why do the Olympic athletes compete.  My answer suggested that since the chances of any of the 2,700 plus athletes winning any medal was less than 9% (less than 3% for gold) it might be considered “foolhardy” to be thinking seriously about GOLD.

However, NBC, the print media, and all other media continually and almost exclusively report about who is winning medals.  They are not reporting on the other 90 to 97% of the athletes. 

Now, many of the athletes themselves may have the Gold, Silver and Bronze in appropriate perspective, but I wonder if John Q. Public shares this VIEW? 

• I raise this question because in a USA Today Quick Question Poll – 78% answered – “YES: Winning a lot of medals is all good” – in response to: “Are you satisfied with the American medal showing so far?”  A mere 15% answered – “Don’t care: I’m interested only in the events.”  (USA Today – 3C – February 23, 2010).

Lest you think I am some kind of anti-medal curmudgeon, I assure you I enjoy watching an athlete record such an elite performance that it is Medal worthy.  Why, because like Bode Miller I enjoy perfection hewn out of hard work and continual skill building; not unlike how we might enjoy the sound of a Stradivarius Violin or a Steinway Piano.

How can Going for the Gold Undermine Optimism?

Five Ways that a Focus on the Reward of Gold, Silver and Bronze can Undermine Optimism

Reduced Risk Taking

• Evan Lysacek became the first American male to win Gold in the Men’s Figure Skating competition in over twenty years.  He won without taking the RISK of doing a “quadruple jump.”  He was criticized for his lack of RISK TAKING by Evgeni Pleshenko, Russion Gold medalist from 2006 and 2010 Silver medalist said: "If the Olympic champion doesn't know how to jump a quad, I don't know . . . Now it's not men's figure skating, now it's dancing."

Actual Interference with Performance

• As I have argued in past bogs, focusing on “doing the next thing right” instead of the “doing the next right thing” usually interferes with the performance.  In 2006 we saw Lindsey Jacobellis make a hot dog celebratory move, resulting in a fall, thinking she had won GOLD before finishing the race.

Inhibits Collaboration and Sharing

• The current revival of American Tap Dance, the only dance form indigenous to America, is partly hindered by a lack of written records.  You see, in the 1920’s-1950’s the 20th Century hey day of American Tap, the top Vaudeville “tappers” did not want anyone to steal their routines; kept them hidden.  The modern Tap Revival has thrived on Tap Festivals and Jam sessions with everyone sharing skill, routines and new ideas.  Similarly, an over focus on winning the medal can inhibit the type of sharing and collaboration among these athletes that would lead to enhanced perfection of skill in the sport.

Deters Appreciation of Cultural Differences

• When we here the Men’s Russian skater verbally criticizing, slamming the American Gold Medalist, we are hardly motivated to explore and learn more about Russian culture; instead we are likely to focus a defending the “American Way.”

Reinforce Belief in Static rather than Fluid Abilities 

• Static Ability is the belief that one’s ability of any kind is stable, unchangeable, “born with,” inherited, or God Given,” and therefore not subject to growth or improvement.  Fluid Ability is the belief that abilities are like skills that can be practiced, honed and improved over time. The Media hype over Medal winning can easily lead to the superficial notion that those “who have it” win the GOLD and “those that don’t lose.”

Stay Tuned for Tomorrow’s post with guidelines for how to RESTORE optimism to our enjoyment of Olympic competition.