Preparation Is How Leaders Demonstrate Competence and Earn Respect
January 28, 2026
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Most people never notice it happening. A challenge arises, pressure increases, or something goes off plan. And without thinking, many leaders drift toward what is wrong instead of what is right. They see what is missing instead of what is possible.
This default to negativity shows up in small comments, subtle facial expressions, and the tone leaders use when things get tough. It spreads fast. It drains the room. It steals energy and confidence from the very people who need it most.
The problem is not that leaders have negative thoughts. Everyone does.
The problem is that most leaders have never trained their minds to choose anything different.
Unfortunately, bad leaders believe negativity is realism. They hide under the covers of “being realistic.” They think their job is to constantly scan for potential threats instead of opportunities.
But they don’t realize their mindset is contagious or repulsive. Their pessimism slowly becomes the culture. The best leaders understand a simple yet profound truth.
If you do not choose your optimistic voice, you automatically choose your pessimistic one.
Dr. Arthur Brooks backs this up when he said, “If you are focused on the things that can go wrong, you are distracted from the things that can go right.”
The human brain is wired with a negativity bias. It does not want you to focus on what is going right. In the ancestral environment, thinking about what could go wrong kept you alive. So the brain developed more space devoted to negative emotions than positive ones. This helps you survive. But it does not help you lead.
When leaders drift toward negativity, three things happen:
Perspective Shrinks – Everything becomes a problem to avoid rather than a future to build.
Creativity Restricts – The team becomes hesitant, guarded, and afraid of being wrong.
Energy Lowers – People stop giving their best when they feel judged or discouraged.
Negativity feels natural, but it always carries a cost, and it’s not neutral.
Optimism is not blind positivity. It is not pretending things are fine. Optimism is the trained belief that a better outcome is possible and that your actions can influence it.
Researchers in Behavior Genetics found that only about 25 percent of optimism is genetic, meaning 75 percent is learned through environment, repetition, and habits. Studies from the University of Pennsylvania show that people who intentionally practice optimistic thinking can measurably increase optimism in as little as two weeks.
Bad leaders ignore this. They let their mind wander wherever it has previously been trained to go. Great leaders work on their mindset with the same seriousness they train their skills. They choose where they place their attention. They choose the story they tell. They choose the voice they listen to.
When leaders default to negativity, the team follows:
When leaders choose optimism, everything shifts:
But here is the hard truth, as author Jon Gordon so wisely wrote, “Positivity doesn’t guarantee a team’s success, but negativity guarantees they won’t experience success.”
Leadership is a daily choice between two voices. One fuels doubt and the other fuels belief.
Optimism is a skill you primarily train. The best part is that it shapes not only you, but most importantly, your team’s culture.
Your team does not need a perfect leader. They need a positive one. A leader who sees possibilities and brings energy.
If you want to strengthen this skill in your own life and leadership, that is why I wrote The Optimistic Outlook. It is a guide to help you train your mind, elevate your voice, and lead with hope when it matters most.
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About the Author: John Eades is the CEO of LearnLoft and The Sales Infrastructure. He was named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices. John is also the author of Building the Best: 8 Proven Leadership Principles to Elevate Others to Success. You can follow him on Instagram @johngeades.
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