What are the benefits and challenges of using optimistic language in your speeches?

Optimistic language inspires and engages audiences because they are inclined to appreciate hope more than despair. The word “hope” comes up often when leaders employ optimistic language, but here’s a tip: Always use “hope” as a noun, not a verb. Used as a noun, “hope” has baked-in optimism (“This milestone gives me hope”), whereas hope as a verb is merely a desire with limited faith in the outcome (“I hope the weather improves.”) It’s the difference between pointing the way (projecting leadership, confidence, and vision) and crossing your fingers (conveying fear and an admission that the situation is beyond your control).

Le langage optimiste est souvent issu du sens caché des mots, voire des lettres utilisées. Nicole consulte pour un mal-être récurrent depuis la disparition de ses parents. Elle manifeste sa souffrance en répétant sans cesse : "je n'arrive pas à les voir autrement que dans leur cercueil". Quand je lui propose d'écouter ce mot attentivement et de le partager en deux, un temps de silence s'installe avant qu'elle ne s'autorise à "panser" ses maux par ces mots : "sers - cueille". Elle découvrit alors l'héritage que lui laissaient ses parents : "cueille tout ce que nous avons partager avec toi et sers-toi en pour continuer ton chemin dans la confiance" Ainsi le cercueil prit un tout autre sens à ses yeux.

Optimism and realism are not antonyms. One can be both optimistic and realistic, or unrealistically pessimistic. The key is balancing both so that a speaker builds both trust (through realism) and inspiration (through optimism). Most audiences want and need to hear both. They want to understand the road under their feet and know it’s leading to an amazing place.

I would consider changing "optimistic." to "realistic or positive." Readers want information they feel is real and also gives them a Take-Away. So many articles are filled with suggestions of what to do but really are not feasible for the reader. In my writing I attempt to help readers determine where they are at, what the message is that they want to convey and of course who their audience is. Naturally, writing should be penned in realistic optimism. Most important is after you've helped people figure out their message, give them tools to self-determine how best to communicate their proposition, idea, etc. Blanket advice is seldom helpful. Tailored questions that bring about self-insight are more likely to meet with success.

From a business-sales perspective, clientele appreciates: - Listening carefully to asking relevant questions - Asking for clarification regarding any insight not fully understood - Weighing the pros and cons of a topic together - Sharing a story relevant to what the client says to encourage a deeper dialogue. By incorporating the above into your repertoire, clients appreciate the conversation's sincerity and give and take, encouraging more business.

Optimistic language or not, being authentic to your voice and truth is the way to go. You can’t go wrong with authenticity. If the optimism is coming from a genuine authentic place, there is no need to veer off from that.