Startup Culture – Be Upbeat
I’m a firm believer that you can be upbeat without being a delusional optimist. It is way more important to be upbeat than to carry the long startup days with pessimism, paranoia, and complaints.
That’s why we put “Be Upbeat” at the top of the list of the AccelerEyes’ beatitudes.
Being upbeat also envelopes other important cultural characteristics, such as:
- Roll with the punches
- Be flexible and willing to bend with the needs that arise
- Have confidence in yourself and your team
- Happiness is a choice
- Smile
- You win more flies with honey than with vinegar
- Be nice
People naturally want to be around other upbeat individuals. Being upbeat has to be a component of any successful culture.
Excellent leadership also motivates followers through upbeat, positive reinforcement as its mainstay method of promoting growth. That is not to say that there isn’t a place for sharp reproving when appropriate. On the contrary, sharp criticism is very effective from time-to-time. But it’s effect is much more powerful when it is launched from an otherwise normally upbeat and positive leader.
Being upbeat also is not about being dumb, ignoring data, nor espousing blind optimism. It is about rejecting dumb paranoia, seeing data for what it is, being comfortable with ambiguity, taking action on gut feelings (which are hopefully more often right than wrong), and rejecting blind pessimism.
Startups are hard and staying upbeat is a true challenge. A great way to stay upbeat is to occasionally reflect on the progress you’ve made as a business. Look to your accomplishments in the sub-components of your business. Look at how you compare to the competition and status quo. Remember the vision that led to the foundation of the new business.
What do you do to stay upbeat at your startup? How do you motivate others when the big challenges arise?