Your automatic, habitual response when people ask, “How are you?” is a telltale indicator of your attitude and energy. I was fortunate to hear Patricia Cameron-Hill present at a Principals conference many years ago. At that time, the most common responses were, “Not bad!” or “I’ve been worse!” Neither of these show a positive upbeat and optimistic attitude.

Cameron-Hill recommended changing your auto response to something more upbeat and optimistic. Whilst she recommended saying,  “TURBO CHARGED!” with accompanying woop-woop arm movements like swinging a lasso rope, I couldn’t go quite that far!

From that day, I changed my habitual response to “AWESOME!” (and that is impossible to say without energy and an upbeat tone!)

Twenty years later, the most common response these days to this courteous question asking about our welfare is, “BUSY!” Whilst I have no doubt that is true, that response doesn’t communicate an optimistic, upbeat attitude that is so needed in schools today.

The CEO of Disney Bob Iger, is quoted as saying, “People are not motivated by pessimists!”

It is also worthwhile noting that other people don’t care how busy YOU are, they only care about how busy THEY are!.

This term I encourage you to monitor your habitual response when asked how you are and ensure it adds energy to the people you lead.

“No one wants to follow a pessimist…You can be skeptical, you can be realistic, but you can’t be cynical. If your boss is Eeyore, do you want to work with someone like that? Oh, bother.”

Bob Iger
CEO Disney