Every now and then, someone describes you so perfectly that it sticks for life. For me, it was my first boss, who in my leaving speech declared me “pathologically chirpy.” A few years later, someone else called me a “pragmatic optimist,” which felt like the grown up, LinkedIn friendly version of the same thing.
Somewhere between those two labels is exactly how I work and why I love what I do.
Chirpy, but not in an annoying way
Let’s get one thing straight: being chirpy doesn’t mean being naive, saccharine or the kind of person who says “everything happens for a reason” while Rome burns behind them.
For me, “chirpy” means:
- bringing energy into rooms, even when the topic is heavy
- believing people do their best when they feel supported, not scrutinised
- finding the human angle in even the driest, and longest policy document
- don’t panic (and with a nod to my events history, never let them see you run – more on that and why another day!)
It’s not forced positivity or seeing life through rose tinted glasses, I’m not Pollyanna. It’s more like: “Okay, this is a mess, but we can absolutely sort it out. Let’s get to work.”
Optimism, but with its feet firmly on the ground
Optimism gets a bad reputation in communications. People assume it means ignoring problems or spinning reality into something unrecognisable.
But pragmatic optimism is different. It’s:
- creative, but not chaotic
- hopeful, but not delusional
- realistic, but not resigned
- strategic, but not dry and joyless
It’s the belief that things can get better, coupled with the practical steps to make it happen.
Why this matters in communications
Communications is, at its core, about people. And people respond to tone just as much as they respond to information.
An optimistic pragmatist can:
- bring creativity without losing sight of the goal
- help leaders communicate with honesty and warmth
- keep teams calm when the stakes are high
- make complex messages feel human and accessible
It’s a balance: optimism fuels ideas; pragmatism turns them into results.
How this shapes my work today
As a freelance comms consultant, this philosophy shows up in everything I do:
- accessibility: optimism about inclusion paired with the pragmatism to actually deliver it
- comms: calm head, steady hand, no drama
- digital transformation: enthusiasm for what’s possible, realism about what’s practical
- strategy: clear, human, and grounded in reality
- team leadership: encouragement, clarity and a sense of humour
I’m not the consultant who’ll drown you in jargon or pretend everything is fine when it isn’t. I’m the one who’ll help you navigate the tricky bits with clarity, warmth and a plan that works.
A final thought from me
Working with someone who is pathologically chirpy doesn’t mean ignoring problems. It means believing we can solve them. And being a pragmatic optimist means we do.