Optimism in response to the unexpected:
Turning unforeseen events into opportunities

Optimism in the unexpected! Turning the unexpected into an opportunity?

When it comes to a plan, the biggest surprise is when it goes according to plan!

In recent years, the unexpected has taken on many forms in our society, and often it’s been difficult to cope. Pandemics, war... Faced with all this, how can we not sometimes feel disconcerted... not to say downright pessimistic?

Yet the human spirit has always shown itself to be a profoundly resilient machine in the face of unforeseen events. Collectively, social groups have always operated with a resilient optimism. The optimistic attitude, particularly in managerial life, is a renewable energy that increases the more it is shared.

The optimistic manager is the one who is lucid, putting reality under the most positive tension possible. Managing with an “optimistic mode” is the only way to help a team cope with adversity and uncertainty.

How do you deal with events that affect the organisation or teams without sinking into pessimism? How can we combat despondency and feelings of powerlessness? How can we maintain confidence in the future?

This white paper is part of a series entitled “Leaders for the Future”, produced by ESCP Business School Executive Education, that addresses the needs of companies and professionals so that they can thrive in the face of challenges and a rapidly shifting business landscape.

Philippe Gabilliet

Emeritus professor of psychology and management at ESCP Business School, Philippe Gabilliet, now devotes most of his time to techniques for developing well-being at work and positive leadership, as well as mental strategies for success. He is co-founder of the ‘Ligue des Optimistes de France’ and honorary president of the international association ‘Optimistes sans frontières’ (ASBL). Philippe Gabilliet has written multiple books, including Éloge de l’inattendu. L’art de se laisser surprendre (Éditions Saint-Simon, 2021).