Realistic Optimism: An Awareness of Actual Circumstances--How Great Leaders Balance Known and Unknown Challenges to Determine a Course of Action

By: Justin Menkes

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Synopsis: Many leaders under duress try to downplay the risks involved in the circumstances they are confronting. They ignore critical facts or focus on solvable problems instead of the larger, more ambiguous challenges they face. But to be a great leader in today's economy, you must recognize that the world of enterprise faces colossal ambiguity--and you must strike a balance between the known and the unknown. In this chapter, psychologist and executive assessment expert Justin Menkes explains how great leaders achieve this balance and maximize their odds of success amidst constant uncertainty: they use an attribute he calls "realistic optimism"--the first of three catalysts that determine a relentless leader's ability to realize his or her own potential, and the potential of others, in a world of duress. The chapter shows you how to develop a critical awareness of actual circumstances--especially when you look at yourself. Through vivid real-life examples, including the experiences of Kevin Sharer, CEO of Amgen, and Gillette's James Kilts, you'll also discover the role humility plays in a leader's ability to face reality, thrive in it, and create an "elastic" organization that can rise to the challenges of today's ever-changing business environment. This chapter was originally published as Chapter 2 of "Better Under Pressure: How Great Leaders Bring Out the Best in Themselves and Others."