Why do we need irrational optimism to solve wicked problems?

While realism can help you stay afloat, optimism can push you to move forward

Someone in my close friend circle asked me to share one of the values that I hold dearly - I shared "optimism". Somehow I always feel that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even though I am fearful to cross the tunnel alone. In a world where you get to hear more "No" -e.g. it is difficult, it can't be done, there is no hope, it is better to give up and at a time when everything you have found "normal" has ceased to exist (thanks to COVID), consciously cultivating optimism can be the ray of light.

There have been innumerable instances in my life, where I have encountered discomfort of not knowing what needs to be done, unable to decide how to move forward, and doubt in my abilities to sail through. The only thing that has kept me going is this attitude of - I can make this happen, what will happen at worst? I will fail miserably, but at least I will learn something. Even though I will temporarily lose, I will gain something out of it and next time I will put in enough rigor to do it the right way. Both in professional and personal settings, this mindset and the "can do" attitude has worked wonders for me and in turn, have helped me to convert positive luck for myself.

We need more irrational optimists to solve wicked problems

There are three kinds of optimists I have encountered so far:

• Irrational Optimist: This person comes with a can-do attitude no matter the complexity and ambiguity of the situation. They will be the first to build upon your ideas, will bring the enthusiasm to rally everyone towards an outcome, and will also provide the cushion of support in stretch and stress situations. The potential downside with them is they might lose a bit of motivation if they don’t see success early.
• Cautious optimist: This person loves to think of the risks first and act towards tipping the odds in favor of them. They will help you think through the risks and all the ways the solution can fall flat. The potential downside with them is that in the face of adversity or not-so-favorable scenarios can take a back seat and the zeal to go over the finishing line.
• Calculated optimist: This person loves to visualize the end of the tunnel and then only act/commit to action. They want to have minimum unknown variables in a scenario to function productively and might not take ownership of a task till they have absolute clarity. The potential downside with them is that they don't believe in evolving clarity or trusting the process, they want answers upfront, if not provided with, they might not go along with you.

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel, An optimist sees light at the end of the tunnel, A realist sees a freight train, A train driver sees three idiots standing on the tracks?

No one is better than the other and ideally, we need every one of them in a team. But the world and its problems are so far from ideal. Ideally, everyone should have their necessities of life met, should reach their fullest potential, and live a happy and content life, but this is far from reality while the world is grappling with "wicked problems". According to the Interaction Design Foundation , wicked problems are problems with many interdependent factors making them?seem?impossible to solve. Because the factors are often incomplete, in flux, and difficult to define, solving wicked problems requires a deep understanding of the stakeholders involved, and an innovative approach provided by design thinking. Complex issues such as healthcare and education are examples of wicked problems.

The core to solving wicked problems is an irrational commitment to impact (borrowing this from one of the core values of Sattva consulting )by individuals/organizations/networks to keep knocking on the door, demonstrating an irrational optimism and prepared for the long haul. More the number of irrational optimists trying to solve wicked problems, better the chance of them latching onto and eradicating the same. They will bring the necessarily required attitudes to solve the wicked problems (at least better than others):

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive clarity
• Ability to act and sustain motivation to act
• Ability to adapt with an outcome focus
• Ability to take and operate with risks

Optimism can be cultivated as a mindset and there can be hope for everyone

Studies ?show that optimism is about 25 percent inheritable, and then other factors affect our positivity — like?socioeconomic status ?— that are often out of our control. Yet that still leaves a solid amount of wiggle room for us to develop a more optimistic outlook as adults. So if you’re someone who tends to see the negative in a given situation, there's hope.

Here are nine ways in which one can cultivate optimism (also the irrational one):

?Almost all of these practices come from my own lived realities, I also acknowledge it is easier said than done. Hence a lot of it comes through consistent and conscious reaffirmations, self-talk, having an optimistic person to get inspiration from, and last but not least believing in yourself. The biggest barrier to irrational optimism is not realism or rational thinking but having a pessimistic and constrained view about your abilities. Overcome it and let your efforts surprise you!