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7 steps to replace irrational optimism with a roadmap for action
We can draft a road map for eliminating the elements that create a toxic culture without falling victim to unreasonable expectations.
As everyone knows, we live in the best of all possible worlds. After all, how many possible worlds are there? One—the one we live in. So, if there is only one possible world, then obviously we live in the best of all possible worlds.
This is the philosophy of Voltaire’s absurdist intellectual, Dr. Pangloss, whose name translates roughly as “universal superficiality.” Despite being impoverished, infected, shipwrecked, caught in an earthquake, hanged for heresy, and sentenced to be a galley slave, he forever clings to his irrepressible optimism.
Hence, this week’s addition to the Ethical Lexicon:
Panglossian (Pan·gloss·i·an/ pan-ˈglä-sē-ən) adjective
An outlook of irrational exuberance in anticipation of an idealized future: Pollyanna; rose-colored; utopian; optimistic.
Let’s start with optimism, which derives from the same root as optimum. Optimists are idealists, possessed by the conviction that things will turn out as well as they possibly could, that our existence is headed—in the truest Panglossian sense—toward becoming the best of all possible worlds.
In contrast, pessimists live under the dark cloud of foreboding, convinced that fate relentlessly follows Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong, will. The ethical mindset, however, rejects binary choices. Between the extremes, we can live emotionally healthy lives by adopting an outlook guided by hopeful realism.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS UTOPIA
In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine published its list of “500 Best Songs of All Time.” John Lennon’s iconic ballad “Imagine” showed up at #3. The former Beatle’s epistle to Marxian philosophy evokes a perfect world with no countries, no possessions, no ultimate accountability for our choices—an idealized future of universal tranquility and bliss. You can almost imagine that the lyrics really were inspired, fully formed, from a conversation with Forrest Gump on The Dick Cavett Show.
Like Marxism itself, Lennon’s chimerical magnum opus is completely detached from reality. There is no roadmap for getting there, just as there is no way of getting to the mythical village of Brigadoon. The juxtaposition of the composer’s utopian vision against the senseless violence of his death underscores the tragic irony of his message.
MEASURED HOPEFULNESS CAN STEER US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Down at #20 on the Rolling Stone hit list we find Paul McCartney’s aspirational masterpiece, “Let it Be.” There’s no irrational optimism here, only cautious, measured hopefulness that we have control over steering our lives in the right direction.
And when the broken-hearted people
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer
Let it be.
And though night is cloudy
There is still a light that shines for me
Shine until tomorrow
Let it be.
We may not be able to dispel either the clouds or the darkness. But we can still find our way forward be seeking the signs and the markers of those who have gone before us, by discerning the flickering lights of wisdom that persistently penetrate the twilight of uncertainty. And that’s a message we can not only rejoice in, but one we can also take to the bank.
In his 16th century satirical novel, Utopia, Sir Thomas More lays out his vision of an idealized society on an island nation. Literally translated as no place, More was not offering a blueprint for a perfect world. Rather, wove in ambiguities that force the reader to contemplate how we can make our world better than it is without severing our connection to reality. And that is the essence of hope.
The Hebrew word for hope is tikvah, derived from a grammatical root related to vector, a course charted toward a goal or destination. It’s also the title of the Israeli national anthem, which celebrates the realized dream of a people who returned to their ancestral homeland after 19 centuries in exile. Unlike utopian optimism, hope is the tether that connects us to the vision of a brighter future and inspires us to plot a course that will take us there.
By applying the same principle to the workplace, we can draft a road map for eliminating the elements that create a toxic culture without falling victim to unreasonable expectations. Suggestion boxes and community message boards, for instance, encourage employees to identify problems, hazards, and inefficiencies. But those platforms backfire unless determined action is taken to address complaints. Asking for feedback and then ignoring it when given is far worse than not asking at all.
To make the most of employee comments, the ethical leader considers this rubric of responsiveness:
Publicly acknowledge complaints and suggestions
1) Publicize what steps are being taken to address them
2) Offer a timeline when improvements might be expected
3) Explain the reason why things need to be the way they are
4) Outline the challenges that make fixing problems more difficult than it appears they should be
5) Express gratitude for feedback
6) Solicit further input
Human beings love to complain, and there is no shortage of objects deserving condemnation. Moderating expectations while taking measurable steps toward improvement will dispel Panglossian illusions. Convincing employees that you share their desire to promote a healthy work environment is the surest way to earn their trust. By doing so, you foster confidence in your commitment to create the best of all possible worlds.
