Relentlessly upbeat
Everything is 'amazing', every setback 'an opportunity'. The team stops telling them bad news.
Rule out first
A role that requires it, such as sales or customer service. Genuine optimism and good fortune. A cultural norm.
What could explain it
Emotional labour: The cheer is a job requirement; off duty they're flatter and admit to fatigue.
Manic defence: The cheer wards off grief or depression; you see glimpses of collapse when it stops.
Experiential avoidance: They change the subject when anything painful is raised, and avoid situations that might produce it.
Enneagram Type 7: Enthusiast: Optimism is temperament: they chase the next good thing and get restless with limits.
Hypomanic (manic) character: High energy, little sleep, many plans and a quick tongue; the cheer is the outward sign of a revved-up system.
A next move
Bring bad news privately and stay with it. Real optimism can sit with it; avoidance changes the subject; manic defence looks briefly stricken before the cheer returns.
If it’s you
What would I feel if I stopped being positive for a day?