Episode 24: The 8 Ways To Avoid Toxic Positivity By Displaying Hopeful Optimism

Apr 1, 2023

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I have a rule for myself when I engage with social media. Never read the comments!

I usually follow this rule, but every once in a while I get sucked down that rabbit hole of negativity. It seems like everyone on social media is angry about something. The local and national news seems to focus only on bad news and the worst of humanity and it is easy to view life through a very negative lens. As a private school leader, somehow you must rise above the negativity and sprinkle your students and staff with hopeful optimism. While you are doing that, you also have to be SUPER careful to not let yourself drift into the danger zone of toxic positivity.

How are you supposed to walk this tightrope of encouraging your staff without having them think that you are completely out of touch with reality? Well on today’s episode of The Private School Leader Podcast we are going to discuss The 8 Ways to Avoid Toxic Positivity By Displaying Hopeful Optimism:

Accurately assess the current situation
Acknowledge the current situation
Paint the picture of a different future
"We are going to get through this"
Set the example
Perform a "belief transplant"
Validate your teacher’s feelings
Get to work

I am confident that these 8 strategies will help you be a more enthusiastic and optimistic leader, while maintaining credibility with your staff.

I know how busy you are. That's why I created a podcast that you can listen to while driving to school, working out or running errands. Think of this podcast as your weekly dose of inspiration, motivation and PD, all while doing something else! I hope that you will listen. More importantly, I hope that what you hear helps you thrive at your school.

Thanks for making a difference!

Mark Minkus

I’ve created a FREE RESOURCE for you called “The Top 6 Ways To Protect Your School From a Lawsuit”. This is a 10 page pdf that will help you to keep your staff and students safe and help keep your school out of court. Litigation is expensive, time consuming and extremely stressful. This common sense guide will help you to be more intentional and proactive when it comes to protecting your school. You can grab “The Top 6 Ways To Protect Your School From a Lawsuit” at www.theprivateschoolleader.com/lawsuit. Thanks!

Please check out all of the free resources on my website that can help you serve and lead your school community. There are "Plug & Play PD's" (45 minute webinars with guided notes) as well as Top 10 Lists of Leadership Books, Productivity Books and TED Talks over at www.theprivateschoolleader.com/resources.

You can grab the show notes for today's episode at www.theprivateschoolleader.com/episode24 Please write a review of this podcast and help push this content out to more leaders. I would love to get your feedback about the podcast, ideas for future episodes and hear about how you are implementing these strategies in your life and at your school. You can email me at mark.o.minkus@gmail.com Thanks!!