Why Optimism is Something You Should be Promoting in Your Organisation

Jun 6

5 min read

Think about a time in your past that you would consider the ‘worst’ day ever.

Maybe you are still thinking about it or still feeling it. Maybe you are still ruminating over what the day consisted of and how that one moment really changed things for you. Or it was many small things that compounded over time to make one really bad day.

It happens. To all of us.

Bad days. Terrible days. Days filled with sadness and sorrow. It might not have been your first ‘worst’ day ever, and unfortunately, it won’t be the last ‘worst’ day ever.

But I want you to also think about how you recovered from it. How did you move forward?

What was the conversation you had with yourself or with others to help you rationalise what happened, so that you could get over this day?

How did you find hope that good days and good things will happen for you again?

Well did you know that your process of ‘finding’ that hope is called Optimism. Another definition for optimism is the hopeful expectation that things will improve or succeed.

It is telling yourself that even though yesterday was a bad day, tomorrow will be a better day.

Depending on your life experience, this is something you may have a high level of or a low level of. With the bleakness and frustrations of life, nobody can be blamed for having low levels of optimism. But did you know that our approach to optimism contributes to our emotional intelligence?

Our level of optimism influences our emotional intelligence (EQ) because it shapes how we perceive and respond to external stimuli and then how we manage our emotions around this. How do we interpret when we get rejected? When we don’t get the attention we want or the recognition that we desire?

The powerful thing that connects these two is that our optimism doesn't just reflect our emotional state, it actively shapes how emotionally intelligent we are, influencing how we understand and navigate both our inner world and our relationships.

How does optimism do this?

It helps sharpen our self-awareness. When you have high levels of optimism, you are more likely to recognise negative emotions (that result from bad experiences) without being overwhelmed by them. You can acknowledge challenges but maintain belief in positive outcomes, which helps you to stay grounded and emotionally attuned.
It gives you a powerful tool of self-regulation as optimism fosters resilience and emotional control. When faced with stress or setbacks, optimistic people can reframe situations positively, which supports better impulse control and stress management.
Optimism contributes to driving internal motivation. When you set your goals high and believe in a better future, you are more likely to pursue meaningful goals, even in the face of obstacles.
Having a high level of optimism helps greatly with your social skills as a positive outlook makes interactions more constructive and collaborative. Optimistic people often inspire and uplift others, building stronger relationships and communication.

So I have explained the power of optimism to you as an individual, but what about the power of optimism in teams?

Promoting optimism in your organisation boosts morale, enhances problem-solving and fosters a more forward-thinking culture. It encourages employees to see challenges as opportunities to improve collaboration and productivity. An optimistic environment also supports emotional wellbeing, helping teams stay engaged, motivated, and better equipped to handle change and uncertainty with confidence.

Let’s take a deep dive into how our optimism can influence productively. Because contrary to popular opinion, optimism doesn’t mean ignoring difficulties, it means facing them with confidence. When teams believe that good outcomes are possible, they work harder, recover faster and achieve more together. Thus making them more productive!

Optimistic teams are more likely to approach challenges with curiosity rather than defeat. They are encouraged to have a solutions-focused mindset by leaders. So instead of dwelling on problems, they look for opportunities and creative solutions. This speeds up progress and drives innovation.
Optimism boosts motivation and engagement which does wonders for overall organisation morale. Because when team members believe that their efforts will lead to positive outcomes, they’re motivated to contribute more. It helps to create a sense of purpose and forward momentum, keeping people focused and energised.
Every team faces obstacles, but an optimistic outlook helps members bounce back faster. They see setbacks as temporary and manageable, rather than permanent or personal, which reduces burnout. Burnout is a silent killer of team productivity, so promoting optimism amongst your people gives them an effective technique for dealing with stress.
Optimism strengthens collaboration and communication by building psychological safety. This enables people to be more willing to speak up, share ideas and support one another. This improves trust, openness and collective problem-solving.
Optimism forms part of our emotional intelligence. So it really can be expressed in different ways. An optimistic tone from leaders or peers can uplift the whole group, creating a positive work atmosphere that enhances focus and productivity. How we express our optimism can really influence the emotional climate. So think about this the next time you have the opportunity to spread hope!

So The EQi Glow wants you to do more things to boost optimism in your teams and your organisations. These activities don’t require major time investment but can significantly shift team mindset toward optimism. Ultimately improving morale and productivity over time.

Gratitude Rounds

How: Start meetings with each team member sharing one thing they’re grateful for.

This activity helps to refocus on positives, which rewires the brain to notice opportunities and build a hopeful mindset. This can also help with the communication amongst the people, as they start to speak positively to each other. Especially when challenges arise.
Positive Framing Practice

How: Take a recent team challenge and reframe it: “What did we learn?” or “What went well despite the setback?”

This activity can encourage a solutions-focused outlook and see failures or mistakes as learning moments. Framing exercises can also help teams to set the right expectations of behaviour, language and conduct. This improves the overall experience and culture of the organisation.
Success Spotting

How: Have team members highlight a recent win, big or small, from themselves or a colleague.

This activity helps to build confidence, celebrates progress and reinforces belief in collective capability. It also helps to re-inspire hope that good things to happen in the team and is something that should be spoken about and shared regularly. By speaking about our wins, it helps inspire and align the team toward a shared, optimistic goal.

Promoting optimism in your organisation isn’t just feel-good—it’s a strategic advantage. It fuels resilience, boosts productivity, and nurtures emotionally intelligent teams. By encouraging positive thinking, solution-focused habits, and shared purpose, you create a culture where people thrive, collaborate effectively, and stay motivated, even in the face of challenges and change.

Ready to transform your workplace culture with emotional intelligence?

At The EQi Glow, we help teams and leaders harness the power of EQ to build better relationships, increase performance and lead with heart. Connect with us and let’s talk about how we can support your journey.