Positive Negativity – See the Problems, Fix the Problems, Deliver the Work
A friend and colleague once told me I have Positive Negativity, and over the years, I’ve decided to own it.
Some people I’ve worked with might call me negative (is that right, LM?), but it’s more complicated than that. I’m not a glass-half-full person, but I don’t see it as half-empty either. What I see is an opportunity to fill the damn glass even more. There’s always room for improvement - especially if half your glass is just sitting there, waiting to be used.
A Pessimist Is Just an Optimist With the Facts
If you don’t know how bad things might get, you can’t prepare for what will stop you from delivering. When I started in project management, risks and issues were all about documentation - get them on a log, update the report, and move on. But over time, I realised that tracking alone doesn’t deliver value - removing blockers does.
So, my focus shifted. I still care about time and cost, but what really matters is flow and value. I help teams spot blockers, make them visible, and eliminate them as fast as possible instead of pretending they don’t exist.
Fix the Problem, Don’t Just Log It
Too many teams track risks instead of solving them. I’ve worked with clients who feel a sense of calm once a risk is documented, as if writing it down somehow fixes it. But a risk log doesn’t deliver anything.
A problem shared isn’t a problem solved. A problem chased down, beaten into submission, and eliminated - that’s the only kind worth talking about. Because once it’s gone, it’s no longer in your way.
Momentum Builds Confidence
Small, steady delivery beats big-bang releases every time. A team that delivers regularly builds confidence, earns trust, and creates the ability to deliver even more in the future.
Think of it this way: even a dripping tap will flood a room if left long enough. That’s the power of consistent progress - small, confident chunks that build real, sustainable momentum.
See the Problems, But Focus on the Fix
Being realistic about blockers isn’t negativity - it’s the first step toward solving them. The key is how you act on what you see.
• Don’t waste time pretending everything’s fine.
• Don’t get stuck in risk reports without action.
• Spot the problems, highlight them, and remove them as fast as possible.
Optimism alone doesn’t deliver results - action does.
So, when you look at your glass, is it half full or half empty? Maybe it’s overflowing, and you think everything’s perfect - but if that’s the case, you probably need a bigger glass.
What’s your take? Drop me a comment or let’s talk.