A New Optimal Paradigm for the Workplace
Are you ready to contribute your best efforts in a superlative work environment? Are you willing to transform your workplace into OptiBiz, that is, an Optimal workplace. At OptiBiz, the employees optimize -- rather than improve or manage -- talents, opportunities, resources, productivity, profitability, and performance. Optimizers ask Optimal questions like:
What is my/the vision of the Optimal workplace?
How can I best express my talents in the workplace?
How can I make the most of my work situation today/this week?
How can I minimize the weaknesses of my work situation today/this week?
Is this the best I/you can do?
What can I do to bring out the best in my colleagues?
What is the best action I/you can take under the circumstances?
What is the most productive use of my/your time right now?
ANYBIZ VERSUS OPTIBIZ
You have probably been part of a typical business, AnyBiz, which has a mixture of thinkers, most of whom are suboptimal and on different wavelengths. Let’s compare life at AnyBiz and OptiBiz. Where would you rather work?
Negativity
At AnyBiz, the business motto is “Think positive!” Positive thinking is revered. Negative thinking is considered inferior—and may even be scorned. A positive thinker may feel miserable about his work situation, but puts on a happy face in the office. Burdened with unresolved thoughts and feelings, he or she compromises morale and productivity. Such a positive thinker typically discounts input from those who are labeled negative thinkers. Negative comments are suppressed with: “That’s negative!” or “You need to change your attitude. We only listen to positive people around here.” At AnyBiz, flaws in products, systems, and projects can escape necessary scrutiny when positive thinkers are unwilling to look at what’s wrong.
Emotional bonding, loyalty, and teamwork are impaired at AnyBiz, because individual vulnerability is not valuable at AnyBiz. Sadly, the work environment can be impersonal, and is often a rat race. Here is a scenario you might have encountered.
FRUSTRATED FRED: My computer is down. I’m not going to make this deadline!
BRUTAL BOB: Are you mouthing off again, Fred? You are so negative.
SELFISH SANDRA: Fred, can you keep your problems to yourself? I have enough of my own.
OPTIMISTIC OLIVER: Just stick with it. You’ll figure it out!
At OptiBiz, individual vulnerability is sacred in the workplace. The optimizers embrace negative thinking, emotions, and situations and work together to resolve issues. At OptiBiz, the personnel have been trained in Optimal Thinking and do their best to use it consistently. Optimal Thinking empowers all members of the organization to focus on the most desirable results and to contribute their best. Let’s observe the difference at OptiBiz:
JIM: My computer is down. I’m not going to make this deadline! I guess I’d better cool off and figure out my best option for resolving this.
BOB: Hey, Jim, can I help you solve your problem?
JIM: Thanks.
BOB: Any idea what’s causing it?
JIM: Ever since I installed the latest version of my graphics program, the computer freezes.
BOB: It sounds as if the graphics program is causing the problem. What choices do you have here?
JIM: I can delete the graphics program from the hard drive and re-install it, add some additional memory, or delete programs I don’t need.
BOB: So what’s your best option?
JIM: I’ll delete the graphics program from the hard drive and re-install it. If that doesn’t work, I’ll get rid of the programs I don’t need. Thanks, for helping me get back on track!
Many leading companies view negative information as a perfect opportunity to discover the Optimal solution. Do you remember the days when we walked around with handkerchiefs in our pockets to handle the common sneeze? It was certainly no fun pulling out a used handkerchief—and no greater joy laundering them. By acknowledging the inherent weaknesses of handkerchiefs, Kleenex Corporation recognized a bountiful market niche and manufactured an alternative that made the company billions of dollars. Your company can make the most of negative information, too!
Wishful Thinking vs. Optimal Realism
Does wishful thinking impact you in the workplace? Brian, a property management and real estate investment business owner, knew that the industrial market was softening. An industrial tenant who was leasing space at market rate was complaining that he had too much space. Brian knew that if they lost the tenant, the space would remain vacant for some time. He estimated a cost of seventy thousand dollars to the company if this occurred. He wanted to make an interim deal below market rate with the tenant to keep him on board. Unfortunately, Brian’s business partners were unduly optimistic. They believed that they should insist on market rate when the lease came up for renewal. Their wishful thinking has already cost the partnership forty thousand dollars. The space has now been vacant for six months.
Unfortunately, many employees at AnyBiz rely on optimism to solve their problems. Some of them are simply naïve and unaware of the dangers of wishful thinking. Here is a conversation overheard at a company where positive thinking had become wishful thinking.
WALTER: I'm not sure that I’ll finish this project on time.
WISHFUL WENDY: Have faith. Just be positive and everything will fall into place.
WALTER: I guess you’re right.
Let’s experience the difference when two Optimal Thinkers seek the best solution to the same situation at OptiBiz.
JACK: I'm not sure that I’ll finish this project on time. What is the best thing I can do?
OLIVER: Which resources do you need to meet your deadline?
JACK: I have all the resources I need. I don’t think the deadline is realistic.
OLIVER: Jack, what’s the worst thing that could happen if you don’t meet the deadline?
JACK: I could lose the client and it would be a significant loss. The client invests over two hundred thousand dollars with us each year.
OLIVER: What do you think is your best strategy to avoid or minimize the impact of your worst case scenario?
JACK: I need to explain my concerns about the deadline to the client and provide him with a realistic time frame as soon as possible.
OLIVER: What are the most constructive actions you can take now?
JACK: I need to give the client a realistic schedule. I will also provide weekly updates to show that this project is my highest priority.
OLIVER: Sounds right to me!
John Chambers, CEO of computer networking giant Cisco Systems, offers the following advice: “When in doubt, we would encourage our investors to make their decisions based on the most conservative estimates.” He is an Optimal realist.
Would you prefer to invest your working hours at AnyBiz or OptiBiz? Do you have the courage and commitment to do whatever it takes?
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Rosalene Glickman, Ph.D. is the author of Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self (Wiley, 2002) She is a consultant who addresses large audiences throughout the world.
