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How to cure a pessimist

Adapted by Jessica Montalvo

Negativity can infect an organization like a bad flu. It can strike unexpectedly, spread throughout the group in no time, and seem almost impossible to cure. Symptoms include dwindling morale, poor recruiting, and wasted time debating, trivial issues. Members begin to dread meetings that are, in their minds, useless because no one listens to them. The group gets a bad rap because the rumor of this negative epidemic spreads across campus. And, ultimately, students avoid the club like the plague.

By following a strict regiment of positive thinking, your organization can avoid this infection and be issued a "clean bill of health."

Don’t spread the disease. Battling negativity requires a conscious effort from all parties involved but it starts with the leader of the organization, If, as the chair or club president , you’re pessimistic about event attendance, election turnout, or fund-raising projections, don’t expect the rest of your staff to have a positive outlook. Consider how the members of your organization perceive you. Are you a positive person? Do you always appear rushed, too busy to listen, too important to help out with ground work? As a leader, you must reflect the attitude that you’re seeking in others.

A spoonful of praise makes the pessimism go down. Instead of mentioning the few problems that came out of an event, first cite all the good the group accomplished. Once everyone involved feels reassured about the role they played, it’s OK to discuss ways to improve the next project.

A dose of recognition can suppress poor attitudes. Make expressing your satisfaction with your staff’s efforts a priority--even if the job isn’t done quite the way you would do it. If the work gets done, even if it’s not perfect by your standards, it’s worth saying thanks. Verbal expressions of gratitude do not have to be the extent of recognition. Certificates, thank-you notes, and prizes are great tools of encouragement.

Don’t overexert yourself. Nothing breeds negativity quicker than projects that are doomed to fail from the start--ones that could have turned out better with more planning and a realistic vision. When planning an event, ask questions such as:

How many people do you imagine will attend?
How much money do you anticipate raising?
How many new members do you expect to attract?

Try to anticipate potential problems that your club may encounter. One step in avoiding mishaps is to maintain simplicity. Keep it small on your first attempt to get a feel for things. After you se how it went on your first try, you can make things a little bit more elaborate.

Ask for help—and mean it. If you ask for advice, take it. If you ask for input, listen. Dominating the conversation and failing to listen to others only incites bitterness.

Make sure you’re giving fellow staffers an environment which allows feedback. Be open to new ideas and suggestions. If you shoot down ideas immediately, you’ll discourage creativity and stifle productivity, not to mention spark negativity. Be assured, if your members feel that they’re playing an integral role in the workings of the organization, they’re bound to have a positive attitude.

Take a load off. Are you letting staff members make their own decisions? Are you stepping in and correcting their work? Are they, in essence, simply gophers? A good leader facilitates leadership qualities in others. Give Staffers a little bit of authority and allow them to make their own decisions and don’t dominate the thought process. Your counterparts will appreciate the respect and confidence they feel they’re given, rather than resent you because you have all of the decision-making authority.

Don’t cough up gossip—it can be contagious. Rumors are common at schools nationally, particularly at smaller institutions where everyone seems to know everyone else. It’s easy to start talking behind the backs of others. Just don’t do it-and don’t let other members of your team do it either. Gossip breeds discontent. If someone comes to you with what seems to be hearsay, tell him that you’re not interested in entertaining such a conversation. The bottom line.

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