Beating The Depression
Beating the Depression.
You thought I was talking about the economy didn’t you? Well maybe I am in a roundabout manner, but I’m really talking about you.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been catching up with a lot of people and a lot of them are in a very depressed state. Cancelled Christmas parties, deals they can’t get over the line, no more training of any sort, no Christmas bonuses, more restructuring, lay offs of 10%, 20%, 30% of the total workforce and being told you’d better get off to a flying start in 2009.
Yep, all this could get you very depressed, which is an acceptable response. But the good news is there’s another way of looking at the world, a way that can be learned. It’s called “Learned Optimism” and like a virus, it spreads.
In a minute I’m going to help you catch that virus. But for the moment, here’s the way I see it. With the current economic challenges or with the Global Financial Crisis (now labelled like a genuine medical virus, the “G.F.C”) you have to be a good detective. What I call a C.I.A agent.
That’s right, you have to find out what’s really happening in YOUR world. Notice I didn’t say THE world, you have no say in that. I’m talking about YOUR state of mind, YOUR beliefs, YOUR mindset, YOUR world.
You see, as a good C.I.A agent, you uncover three things:
1. What you can Control
2. What you can Influence and
3. What you have to Accept.
If you can’t ACCEPT that we are in for some interesting times and that you have little INFLUENCE over it, then you’re probably not depressed. I’d suggest you are in denial!
So, what can you CONTROL? Well, the thing you have absolute control over, what gives us dignity, courage, hope and faith and meaning is YOUR MINDSET.
And this is where Learned Optimism comes in. The leaders and organisations who’ll get through this G.F.C will have a mindset of optimism, infect others with it and if they’re smart teach others how to have it as well (sending this newsletter to others would be a good start).
Dr Martin Seligman the founder of Positive Psychology states:
“How people respond to setbacks – optimistically or pessimistically – is an accurate indicator of how well they will succeed at school, in sports, and in most kinds of work. People with an optimistic attitude for life tend to treat obstacles and setbacks as temporary and therefore surmountable. That provides the foundations for the perseverance and resilience that underlie above average results.”
Seligman’s detective work (research) found some major differences between pessimists and optimists:
Optimists:
Motivated and inspired by success
Distort reality in their favour
Live longer, healthy lives
Academically receive higher grades
Achieve higher sales
Bounce back, resilient from setbacks
Take more entrepreneurial risks
Persistent and undaunted
Energised by defeat
Pessimists:
Fail more often
More frequently depressed
More protracted periods of illness
Give up more easily
Believe “the situation” is hopeless
Less likely to achieve their full potential
The bottom line on becoming more optimistic is to develop an awareness of the way you interpret events going on around you (e.g. the G.F.C). Seligman called this your “Explanatory Style”. Do you see current events negatively (pessimistically) or positively (optimistically)? In other words, how do you explain them?
There are three “P’s” involved with Explanatory Style, different for both Optimists and Pessimists:
P1: PERMANENCE
Pessimists say:
“The G.F.C is going to last forever. It’s terrible! The world is falling apart. This will probably take decades to recover from. The markets, my super, my wealth will never be the same again (it’s permanent)”
Optimists Say:
“The G.F.C is real, but it won’t last forever. What can we do to set ourselves up for even greater success when it passes?”
P2: PERVASIVE
Pessimists say:
“Not only are we in a G.F.C, I’m in a crisis as well. Because of the G.F.C I don’t know who I am, where I’m going. It’s impacting (pervading) my leadership, my golf game and my love life.”
Optimists say:
“Just because the G.F.C is happening it doesn’t have to colour my whole world. It may be bad but I’m still a good person, this is still a good business, I can still lead well and inspire my team. My golf may improve and I could even improve my love life by being more present.
P3: PERSONAL
Pessimists say:
“This is impacting me more than anyone. No one fully understands what I’m going through. Why does this sort of thing always happen to me, just when I’m getting ahead? I’m hopeless, what’s the point, why try, why bother (it’s really personal)?”
Optimists say:
“We’re all in this together. Pain shared is pain divided. Others are feeling exactly the way I am. It’s not their fault, it’s not my fault. In fact much of the G.F.C is out of my control. I won’t take it personally but I can look at my personal leadership, my personal spending and how ‘personal’ I am to others.”
So how did you go on the three “P’s”? Can you see yourself or others on either side of the pessimist/optimist continuum? What is your Explanatory Style?
You can’t beat the external G.F.C, recession or depression but you can certainly beat your own depression.
Yes there are a lot of “negative vibes” around, people are hurting. The pain is very real. But pain in life is inevitable; it’s part of the human condition. And what’s even more real is the human spirit, our ability to keep going despite the uncertainties we are faced with. This sort of energy is infectious.
You have to be a great detective, a C.I.A agent. You have to discover and uncover for yourself the power of mindset – the one thing you do have control over.
Anyone can lead in the good times (I used to think I was a genius in the stock market until this year). It takes great leadership, authentic transformational courage to lead in these times. Most of all it takes hope.
A leader is a dealer in hope, and in these times it’s even more important to celebrate a culture where EVERYONE LEADS, where everyone is a dealer in HOPE.
Thankyou so much for being part of The Human Enterprise during 2008. Your stories of personal and professional transformation make it all worthwhile. You are the reason we do this work and why we love it so much.
Hope we get to do some more great stuff together in 2009.
Merry Christmas
Paul Mitchell
You can read more newsletters here. Or, if you want to become a subscriber and have the "Everyone Leads" Leadership Newsletter delivered straight to your in-box then simply leave your details in the form on the right (or below). Subscription is free and your personal information will be kept safe and secure.
You thought I was talking about the economy didn’t you? Well maybe I am in a roundabout manner, but I’m really talking about you.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been catching up with a lot of people and a lot of them are in a very depressed state. Cancelled Christmas parties, deals they can’t get over the line, no more training of any sort, no Christmas bonuses, more restructuring, lay offs of 10%, 20%, 30% of the total workforce and being told you’d better get off to a flying start in 2009.
Yep, all this could get you very depressed, which is an acceptable response. But the good news is there’s another way of looking at the world, a way that can be learned. It’s called “Learned Optimism” and like a virus, it spreads.
In a minute I’m going to help you catch that virus. But for the moment, here’s the way I see it. With the current economic challenges or with the Global Financial Crisis (now labelled like a genuine medical virus, the “G.F.C”) you have to be a good detective. What I call a C.I.A agent.
That’s right, you have to find out what’s really happening in YOUR world. Notice I didn’t say THE world, you have no say in that. I’m talking about YOUR state of mind, YOUR beliefs, YOUR mindset, YOUR world.
You see, as a good C.I.A agent, you uncover three things:
1. What you can Control
2. What you can Influence and
3. What you have to Accept.
If you can’t ACCEPT that we are in for some interesting times and that you have little INFLUENCE over it, then you’re probably not depressed. I’d suggest you are in denial!
So, what can you CONTROL? Well, the thing you have absolute control over, what gives us dignity, courage, hope and faith and meaning is YOUR MINDSET.
And this is where Learned Optimism comes in. The leaders and organisations who’ll get through this G.F.C will have a mindset of optimism, infect others with it and if they’re smart teach others how to have it as well (sending this newsletter to others would be a good start).
Dr Martin Seligman the founder of Positive Psychology states:
“How people respond to setbacks – optimistically or pessimistically – is an accurate indicator of how well they will succeed at school, in sports, and in most kinds of work. People with an optimistic attitude for life tend to treat obstacles and setbacks as temporary and therefore surmountable. That provides the foundations for the perseverance and resilience that underlie above average results.”
Seligman’s detective work (research) found some major differences between pessimists and optimists:
Optimists:
Motivated and inspired by success
Distort reality in their favour
Live longer, healthy lives
Academically receive higher grades
Achieve higher sales
Bounce back, resilient from setbacks
Take more entrepreneurial risks
Persistent and undaunted
Energised by defeat
Pessimists:
Fail more often
More frequently depressed
More protracted periods of illness
Give up more easily
Believe “the situation” is hopeless
Less likely to achieve their full potential
The bottom line on becoming more optimistic is to develop an awareness of the way you interpret events going on around you (e.g. the G.F.C). Seligman called this your “Explanatory Style”. Do you see current events negatively (pessimistically) or positively (optimistically)? In other words, how do you explain them?
There are three “P’s” involved with Explanatory Style, different for both Optimists and Pessimists:
P1: PERMANENCE
Pessimists say:
“The G.F.C is going to last forever. It’s terrible! The world is falling apart. This will probably take decades to recover from. The markets, my super, my wealth will never be the same again (it’s permanent)”
Optimists Say:
“The G.F.C is real, but it won’t last forever. What can we do to set ourselves up for even greater success when it passes?”
P2: PERVASIVE
Pessimists say:
“Not only are we in a G.F.C, I’m in a crisis as well. Because of the G.F.C I don’t know who I am, where I’m going. It’s impacting (pervading) my leadership, my golf game and my love life.”
Optimists say:
“Just because the G.F.C is happening it doesn’t have to colour my whole world. It may be bad but I’m still a good person, this is still a good business, I can still lead well and inspire my team. My golf may improve and I could even improve my love life by being more present.
P3: PERSONAL
Pessimists say:
“This is impacting me more than anyone. No one fully understands what I’m going through. Why does this sort of thing always happen to me, just when I’m getting ahead? I’m hopeless, what’s the point, why try, why bother (it’s really personal)?”
Optimists say:
“We’re all in this together. Pain shared is pain divided. Others are feeling exactly the way I am. It’s not their fault, it’s not my fault. In fact much of the G.F.C is out of my control. I won’t take it personally but I can look at my personal leadership, my personal spending and how ‘personal’ I am to others.”
So how did you go on the three “P’s”? Can you see yourself or others on either side of the pessimist/optimist continuum? What is your Explanatory Style?
You can’t beat the external G.F.C, recession or depression but you can certainly beat your own depression.
Yes there are a lot of “negative vibes” around, people are hurting. The pain is very real. But pain in life is inevitable; it’s part of the human condition. And what’s even more real is the human spirit, our ability to keep going despite the uncertainties we are faced with. This sort of energy is infectious.
You have to be a great detective, a C.I.A agent. You have to discover and uncover for yourself the power of mindset – the one thing you do have control over.
Anyone can lead in the good times (I used to think I was a genius in the stock market until this year). It takes great leadership, authentic transformational courage to lead in these times. Most of all it takes hope.
A leader is a dealer in hope, and in these times it’s even more important to celebrate a culture where EVERYONE LEADS, where everyone is a dealer in HOPE.
Thankyou so much for being part of The Human Enterprise during 2008. Your stories of personal and professional transformation make it all worthwhile. You are the reason we do this work and why we love it so much.
Hope we get to do some more great stuff together in 2009.
Merry Christmas
Paul Mitchell
You can read more newsletters here. Or, if you want to become a subscriber and have the "Everyone Leads" Leadership Newsletter delivered straight to your in-box then simply leave your details in the form on the right (or below). Subscription is free and your personal information will be kept safe and secure.
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What Subscribers Say
I took the time last night to quietly read your “Beating the Depression” newsletter. Wow… Such a great piece and an important reminder of the power of optimism...Very timely, with so much “bad” news and negativity around the place...it’s hard not to get caught up in the doom and gloom.
Its tough times in our property business, but so important to remain upbeat and focused on your own sphere of influence that I have passed in on to my sales team and pasted it on my own message board. Thank you for the inspiration.
Jim Langford, Principal, Langford Property Partners
Thank you so much for this! There are just so many self-help materials going around but your stuff is just super practical and easy to implement. The Human Enterprise rocks! Keep up the great work!
Ravin Rajendran, SAP South East Asia
Just wanted to compliment you on this outstanding piece of insightful writing. There's so much drivel out there in this field and yours is just superior....Glad to be on your list.
Bill Baggitt, Director, Let's Talk Business
