On the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” contestants rely on “lifelines” when facing difficult questions.
They can phone a friend, poll the audience, or eliminate wrong answers as a means of getting to the right answer.
Effective leaders employ a similar strategy. Not for answering trivia. But rather for maintaining optimism.
Sustained leadership requires enduring optimism, even when circumstances deteriorate. What distinguishes resilient leaders is not an absence of difficulty but the ability to sustain their confidence and optimism over time in the face of difficulty.
An “optimism lifeline” is one way they do so.
An optimism lifeline is a reliable source of energy, confidence, or good feelings. These lifelines can vary widely in form but serve a common purpose: restoring a leader’s optimism when energy wanes or problems seem insurmountable.
Some leaders keep physical reminders of past achievements as their lifelines: a photograph of a mountain climbed, a handwritten note from a grateful colleague, or a memento from a successful product launch.
These tangible anchors reactivate the confidence of previous victories.
Others have a mental list of people who consistently restore their perspective. These are their “phone a friend” lifelines, trusted confidants they can call or visit who provide an optimism infusion when needed most.
Other lifelines may be a place like a favorite walking path or quiet room, an activity like a morning run or meditation practice, or inspirational content like a favorite poem, song, or recorded speech that restores perspective when internal resources run low.
The best leaders also recognize the power in serving as an optimism lifeline to others.
They offer timely words of confidence, share personal stories of overcoming setbacks, recommend perspective-shifting books, or simply create space for reflection. Leaders learn that helping team members restore their confidence strengthens their own.
The key is to identify your optimism lifelines before you need them and to build a collection of them. You never want just one lifeline in a storm.
Inventory your optimism lifelines today. If the list seems sparse, begin to build. Prepare the lines before you need them. Good leaders always have lifelines of confidence hanging over the rail.
