Half Full or Half Empty?

I’m sure you’ve all heard the expression of seeing the glass as either half full or half empty. Those who see the metaphorical glass as half full are usually described in ways that imply they are optimists. In contrast, those who see the cup as half empty are not called pessimists per se but are encouraged to change their outlook.

I pose a new view that neither seeing the glass as half full nor half empty matters. Instead, what counts are three things:

1. What do you need to do (to keep the glass filled or to keep it empty)?

2. What motivates you (the thrill of accomplishment or the fear of failure)?

3. What are you going to do about it (actions to ensure positive outcomes)?

What do you need to do?

It is crucial to keep sight of the unique roles we play in our families, with friends or at work that helps us get to the shared goals. We all bring something different to the table, and we need to understand it, appreciate it and do the best we can. A simple example would be a manufacturing organisation with traditional functions or divisions. The marketing team’s job will be to promote the products, while the supply chain or logistics division will invest in solutions that allow goods to be received and delivered on time. The Sales function in this scenario will be tasked with ensuring the products are sold at the right volume and margins for the company to be profitable. If the organisation’s balance sheet is the metaphorical glass, we could say that the company’s goal is to keep the glass as full as possible. However, some functions like marketing and operations need to take some of the content out of the glass for this to happen. This is why we need to understand our individual roles and ensure that we are moving in the right direction at a macro level, whether we need to keep the glass full or empty.

What motivates you?

Some people are terrified about the possibility of failure, which may drive them to take specific preventative actions to achieve their goals. In contrast, others love a good challenge, and the thrill of accomplishing goals drives them to do everything they can to ensure they are successful. We are all different, and we compliment each other. We need to understand what works for us and hone our skills.

What are you going to do about it?

This is the golden question and is dependent on where you fall in the grid below. I have my own perspective on this, but I would like to know what you do in response to the half full or half empty dilemma. Feel free to provide your comments on what you do to ensure a positive outcome so we can all learn from each other.