202 / 100 Ways to Motivate Others Optimistic leaders acknowledge the downside of ev- ery situation, then focus the majority of their thinking on the upside. They also focus the majority of their commu- nication on the upside. They know that the downside is always well-known throughout the team. But the upside is never as well-known. Who wants to look like an idiotic optimist? It is far more popular and easy to be a clever and witty pessimist. But it is not leadership. Optimism in the face of a grumbling and pessimistic team takes courage and energy. It is something most team members would never be willing to do. It is the heart and soul of leadership. And while you may be questioned about it now and then, in the end, the very end, when your work is almost through, it is what your team members will love you for the most.