The most important characteristic of a leader is optimism. – Bob Iger

Optimistic leaders are the catalysts for positive culture. When a team, any team, is optimistic it performs at a high level. When leaders use fear, the overall performance of the team is limited. When leaders use optimism, the overall performance of the team is limitless.

In your mind’s eye think about a time when you’ve been cynical or negative; your team was almost certainly influenced by your negative vibes. It’s not about what we say; it’s about how we act when it counts . . . when the pressure is on. It’s easy to be optimistic in calm waters . . . it takes intentionality to be optimistic during the storm. Act with purpose, press pause to gauge your own behavior, and be a purposeful optimist. The people you work with will benefit from your discipline.