“Perhaps the most accurate term for happiness, then, is the one Aristotle used: eudaimonia, which translates not directly to “happiness” but to “human flourishing” -Shawn Achor, The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work
A Parable of Optimism: The Two Wolves
A native storyteller shares the tale of a young boy who was troubled by a struggle inside him, a battle between two wolves. One wolf, representing negativity, anger, and fear, constantly made him feel defeated and small. The other wolf, representing optimism, love, and hope, made him feel strong and empowered. The boy asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The wise grandfather replied, “The one you feed. “The boy sat in thoughtful silence understanding now that his heart’s battle was one he had the power to control.
This parable beautifully illustrates the power of optimism in the face of adversity. Just as the boy can choose which wolf to feed, leaders have the ability to choose whether they will focus on challenges or solutions. Optimism is a choice, and one that fuels progress and inspires engagement. Studies by Gallup found that teams with high levels of employee engagement (a key outcome of optimism) show 21% higher profitability and 17% higher productivity than their less optimistic counterparts. They also show that teams with high levels of social support and trust are 25% more likely to be high performing. A positive and supportive work environment increases employee retention by up to 50%, further proving that social investment is a crucial driver of success. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that companies with a culture of innovation and optimism are 30% more likely to see higher returns on investment than those that lack such a culture.
Why then aren’t all leaders harnessing the power of optimism?
The Happiness Advantage: A Paradigm Shift
Traditional thinking suggests that success leads to happiness. However, Shawn Achor flips this notion on its head, arguing that happiness actually fuels success. Leaders who foster a positive mindset not only set the tone for their teams but unlock higher performance and innovation. By embracing optimism, they create an environment where resilience and productivity thrive. The leaders I work with are clear that they have to intentionally adopt this mindset until it becomes the new operating framework because there is pressure to perform in the old paradigm and feed the ‘fearful wolf’ in today’s business environment.
Five Key Principles of The Happiness Advantage for Leaders
Shawn Achor’s research outlines several core principles that optimistic leaders can use to drive success in their organizations. Here are five essential concepts from The Happiness Advantage that can transform leadership followed by some reflection questions to assess where you are today in relationship this paradigm:
1. The Happiness Advantage: Success Follows a Positive Mindset
Achor argues that happiness isn’t a reward for success; it’s the fuel for it. When leaders prioritize positivity, they create environments where creativity, engagement, and productivity thrive. Optimistic leaders turn challenges into opportunities, rather than obstacles.
Reflection Question: How am I actively shaping an environment where optimism fuels performance, innovation, and long-term strategic success?
2. The Fulcrum and the Lever: Shifting Your Perspective
Your mindset (the fulcrum) determines your ability to create change (the lever). Leaders who see challenges as opportunities instead of roadblocks unlock higher potential in themselves and their teams. Optimism helps leaders pivot and innovate in ways that drive long-term success.
Reflection Question: How can I shift my leadership perspective to view industry disruptions as catalysts for transformative change? If I already see disruptions as gifts, how did I come into this knowing and how might I share with others?
3. The Tetris Effect: Training Your Brain to See Possibilities
Training your brain to capitalize on possibility is what this principle is all about. Negative Tetris effect is focusing on problems and finding things to fix. Positive Tetris effect is to train your brain to scan the world for the opportunities and ideas that allow our success rate to grow (just like the Tetris game). Leaders who train their minds to focus on possibilities instead of problems create innovative and adaptive teams. Optimistic leaders focus on solutions and new ideas, opening the door to growth and development.
Reflection Question: Am I strategically coaching my leadership team to proactively recognize and capitalize on emerging opportunities rather than reacting to obstacles?
4. Falling Up: Learning from Failure
Great leaders use setbacks as stepping stones for future success. Instead of clinging to outdated strategies, they learn from past challenges and use that knowledge to improve and innovate. In a sense, they learn from history and instead of repeating it, they leverage it!
Reflection Question: How do I empower my leadership team and organization harness our history as a learning tool to drive sustained innovation and resilience?
5. Social Investment: Building Strong Relationships for Resilience
Anchor emphasizes that investing in social connections is key to resilience and success. Leaders who build strong relationships within their teams create environments of trust, collaboration, and motivation. Optimism is contagious, and when a leader exudes positivity, it spreads throughout their team when it is authentic and transparent.
Reflection Question: Am I intentionally fostering deep, trust-based relationships across my leadership team and organization to drive collective resilience and long-term success?
Optimism is a Competitive Advantage
Leadership is a continuous act of choosing which wolf to feed. Every challenge presents an opportunity to focus on fear and limitations or to embrace optimism and solutions. The data is clear and the research in the The Happiness Advantage outlines this in a fresh way. Leaders who cultivate a culture of trust, engagement, and innovation create thriving teams and organizations. But beyond the numbers, optimism fuels resilience, strengthens connections, and inspires people to reach their full potential.
In the end, leaders must decide. The wolf that wins is the one you feed …But as a leader there is added complexity. You are not just feeding your own wolf. You are feeding the wolves of your team members. Which wolf to feed then becomes an even more important question that leads me back to the introductory quote. Human flourishing is only possible if you feed the right wolves.
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