Chapter 15. Nancy Stirs the Pot

The soup doesn't lie. Grandma's words echoed in Nancy's mind over the next few challenging weeks as she executed her plan to stir the pot with optimism. She would also draw upon Joy's words as she sought to identify both the optimistic leaders, who would help Soup, Inc., become successful again, and the pessimistic naysayers, who needed to get off the bus. The first thing she did was unload a few of the pessimistic members of her leadership team. They were convinced the company was doomed, regardless of the actions they took. In their minds, they had already quit, even though their bodies went to work each day. They figured they would go along for the ride as long as they were collecting a fat paycheck. They had the skill but not the will. They had experience but no hope. They had become worn out like an old shoe. Nancy had struggled with the decision for a while, knowing that some of these people had been with the company a long time; yet they could not help to save the company, and now was the right time to let them go. It certainly wasn't easy, but the future of her company depended on it.

Next, she conducted a survey, asking employees to rate their managers and leaders in terms of optimism and pessimism. If she were going to be successful, she needed to surround herself with positive leaders and managers who would stir the pot with optimism in their respective departments. As CS Lewis wrote, "What is necessary is never impossible," and she needed ...

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