The power of positivity

Reflections on a remarkable year

My private email signature reads: “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” A quote from the wonderful Maya Angelou. But 2022 also showed quite clearly, without clouds there are no rainbows. So, here are my three major takeaways from an intense year.

Sometimes it is about the “least worst”

I will never forget the phone call on February 24 at 7:30 am. As most communications departments, we had been ready for escalating military action, but the prospect of a full-scale war in Europe seemed unimaginable.

Speaking with communications professionals from many organizations, we all agreed that this was an incredibly challenging issue to navigate. All of us recognized this challenge was nothing compared to those directly affected. Finding the right words when people are suffering and dying. Finding the right words when there is no good outcome. The team and I learned the notion of “least worst.” In such a situation there is no “best”; sometimes it is about working together with business leaders, legal and communications colleagues to find the best possible outcome.

Positivity is a choice

In a year when we had to deal with even more uncertainties beyond the war – and exacerbated by it – it has been a rollercoaster. There were many very positive moments too. Great business performance, major launches, and the privilege of being part of the celebration of an impressive 175th birthday of Siemens at the beginning of October.

Now, I am a born optimist. I often mention that with great optimism can come crushing disappointment. But I want to share something it took me all these years to realize: I choose positivity.

Yes, naturally my glass is more than half full. But in the face of challenges and uncertainty, my mind actively looks at the upside. What am I grateful for? What has gone well? What do I have a good handle on? It is only this year that I realized that I have been making an active choice to be positive. And in turbulent times and in the face of pressure, positivity is scientifically proved to be beneficial and there are many books and articles about the neuroscience and how you can “train your brain” …

The infinite game

And this links to my final reflection that I recently shared in a presentation to my global leadership team. And this was one of the high points – being all together, from all over the world, after three years.

In a year like this, approaching professional life as an infinite game can be powerful. This is the idea that there are no short-term winners or losers in business. Rather, success is built on keeping the game going forever. Simon Sinek expands on the idea with a book and talks with the same title.

Looking back at 2022 there are plenty of these stories: Just as we completed a major project milestone, and I was due to have a short holiday in the mountains, that call came at 7:30 am. Those calls about an issue that never come on a Monday morning at 10am, always on a Friday afternoon! The list goes on. We may close off milestones and projects, but it’s better not to think of start and end points, but of opportunities to continuously improve our game plans. It’s a notion closely linked to a growth mindset, where each challenge is another learning opportunity.

As the year comes to a close, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has worked so impressively to navigate the highs and the lows. It has been my most challenging professional year to date, but it includes some of the best memories too.

I am incredibly grateful for the break during the festive period, where I hope everyone has been able to recharge. Think of it as a short pause before we continue in this infinite game, where we can do great things together, better each time as we learn.

Cheers to 2023 and beyond.

Lynette