The power of positive encouragement: Overcoming limiting beliefs and embracing optimism
In a world inundated with negativity and divisive rhetoric, it’s crucial to recognise the transformative influence of positive encouragement.
Challenging the notion of inherent inequality
A few years back I read Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, and I was fascinated by a study that showed that black and female students would perform worse in a test if they were told beforehand that black or female students generally performed worse in such tests. In fact, numerous studies have revealed the disheartening reality that individuals from marginalised groups can underperform in tasks when subjected to negative stereotypes and low expectations. This underlines the significance of combating these stereotypes and encouraging all individuals to reach their full potential. Belief in oneself is often the first step towards success.
Politicians, division and the power of unity
Political rhetoric often thrives on divisive tactics and the propagation of the idea that certain groups can’t succeed. No one likes to remind people that the odds are stacked against them more than politicians. In my job working with young students and aspirant professionals, a major difference I have noted between those from privileged and underprivileged backgrounds is self-confidence and the willingness to ask for certain opportunities.
It is easy to underestimate the outsize impact that this has on performance and advancement in the corporate arena. A cohesive and inclusive society stands as a far more powerful force. Ideally, we should live in a country where politicians emphasise unity and the potential of all citizens, which create an environment where individuals believe in their capacity for success.
Cultivating optimism and success
Optimism is a potent driver of success. Encouraging people to set ambitious long-term goals and emphasising their attainability can foster a culture of optimism and determination. In my initial meeting with each one of our trainees or mentees, I usually ask them where they would like to be in 30 years’ time. My role in that moment is to reinforce to them that no dream is too big with the right attitude, work ethic and a bit of luck. If not, we wouldn’t have a bank CFO who obtained his accounting qualification from Unisa or a chairman of such an institution who hails from a township in Soweto.
The transformational power of encouragement
Patricia Mafune was born in 1962 to a family so poor that she was once removed from her primary school in Soweto for wearing a homemade school uniform that didn’t match that of her fellow students. She enrolled for Computer Science before she had ever touched a computer with her own hands. She had the nerve to do such because despite the politics of the day, because her mother told her that she could achieve whatever she set her mind to. Luckily she passed that same attitude to her children, nieces and nephews.
In a world filled with negative influences and limiting beliefs, it is vital that we recognise the profound impact of positive encouragement. Let’s champion a society that encourages, uplifts, and believes in the boundless possibilities of every individual. After all, it is optimism that paves the way for unprecedented success and collective growth.
