I get it. You might find that your attitude is already on point so you probably don’t want a lecture from your coach on why attitude is everything. But bear with me.
A recent study cited in The Guardian found that 98% of people think they’re among the nicest 50%. And this delusion seeps into everything from how we rate our attractiveness to our driving. If you’re anything like me, this is a colossal disappointment to all of our egos.
But whether we want to admit it or not, it’s true. Even the smallest things we do (or don’t do) can be a reflection of our attitude and also impair or improve our career reputation.
According to Success Magazine: One of the most important steps you can take toward achieving your greatest potential in life is to learn to monitor your attitude and its impact on your work performance, relationships and everyone around you. Simply put, it takes a positive attitude to achieve positive results.
The author Keith Harrell goes on to say, “We all have a choice. We can choose an inner dialogue of self-encouragement in self-motivation, or we can choose one of self-defeat and self-pity. It’s a power we all have. Each of us encounters hard times, hurt feelings, heartache, and physical and emotional pain. The key is to realize it’s not what happens to you that matters; it’s how you choose to respond.”
Habitual bad attitudes are often the product of past experiences and events. Common causes include low self-esteem, stress, fear, resentment, anger and an inability to handle change. It takes serious work to examine the roots of a harmful attitude, but the rewards of ridding ourselves of this heavy baggage can last a lifetime.
In a recent coaching project I experienced how resentment and attitude severely hampered several professionals’ career reputations. One senior team member (by 12 years), and clearly the most qualified, recently received a promotion. This individual is truly deserving, kind and a very hard worker. Unfortunately, several new employees who have been there less than a year felt slighted. Instead of expressing their concern with the decision maker they began to ostracize the newly promoted team member and “sulk” around the office with outward displays of their negative attitude.
What happened? Well, they got a rude awakening when the big boss shared her observations and how their poor attitudes have now sullied their career reputations. Yikes! She also went as far as to put the “ring leader” on a Performance Improvement Plan. Talk about a scar on your employment record. Even the smallest attitude issue can have long-term effects. Don’t let this be you.
Here are a few ways you can improve your attitude today:
- Open the door for others and just soak in their gratitude;
- Smile, even when you don’t feel like it and see how it uplifts everyone’s mood;
- Say “please,” “thank you,” and “hello” to others as it’s the polite thing to do;
- Listen to others when they need you and they will return the favor in kind;
- Support others’ success and wins without resentment;
- Avoid snarky tones especially in written communication;
- Ixnay on passive aggressive behavior—it’s immature;
- If you must express your concerns or negative feelings, do so in a professional way;
- Ensure your body language reflects positively on your career reputation;
- Keep in mind that your attitude is part of your personal brand;
- Remember, your attitude increases your health and happiness;
- Know that your attitude directly reflects your chances for success.
How to Be Career Happy? Remember, Attitude is Everything