Attitude Is Everything

Ever since I became a professional speaker and trainer, much of my work has been with corporations. Managers have invited me to speak to their sales forces, their office staffs or their management groups. But over the last several years there has been a change in the tone of the invitations.

In my first year, the invitations were something like this: “Amar, we’re going for a record year and I really want to keep my people pumped up. I’d like for you to help us raise our attitudes another notch.”

The times have really changed. Today, the invitations are more like, “Amar, we’ve got a lot of challenges merging different cultures. Our people are more worried about their futures than their work. Frankly, I have to do something. Amar, I know you can help us, and we’re ready to get started. What can you do to help?”

The workplace has changed dramatically. Companies are either “downsizing,” “rightsizing,” “merging” or “being acquired.” Thousands of people who thought their lives were secure through retirement are now suddenly vulnerable. Some will become unemployed, and those who remain will wonder when their turns will come.

These are the kind of circumstances that can defeat you… if you let circumstance dictate your life. That’s what happens to a lot of people. For others, the circumstance becomes an opportunity for getting where they want to go.

One of the challenges facing management and co-workers today is dealing with difficult people—those who have negative attitudes. It is important to note that a person with a negative attitude has the same power to influence others as a person with a positive attitude. The difference appears in the results.

Positive attitudes in the workplace have many benefits, including:

·         Improved communications

·         Better teamwork

·         Increased morale

·         Higher productivity

The opposite is true for negative attitudes. They dismantle teamwork, increase stress and cripple productivity.

In the workplace, the big difference between the winners and the losers is often attitude.

The salesperson who sells more, the manager who inspires her people, the manufacturing supervisor who sets the tone for everybody around them, are all good examples of what attitude does for you and everybody around you.

MAINTAINING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE IN THE WORKPLACE

With the current global economy in a recession, it can be difficult to maintain a positive attitude in the workplace. In fact, sometimes it can seem like Mission Impossible.

Instead of falling victim to the negative work attitudes that surround you, make an effort to buck the trend. Look for the good in your co-workers and your workplace. By learning how to communicate with co-workers effectively, you will gain recognition as a force of positive attitude in the workplace.

Here are some beginning steps for how to communicate with co-workers effectively:

• Be appreciative
• Recharge yourself
• Volunteer your time
• Avoid negative work attitudes

By following the specific strategies below, you'll learn how to communicate with co-workers effectively, and lend to a positive attitude in the workplace.

BE APPRECIATIVE

It is always nicer to get a pat on the back rather than to get stabbed in the back. If you're wondering "how do I change my negative attitude," start by observing how you communicate with co-workers. If you practice asking useful questions, giving accolades and being gracious at work for two weeks, you'll notice a difference in the people you work with and in your own feelings about work.

Stay Positive Check-up Questions:

• How often do you show appreciation at work?
• Are there opportunities to energize your co-workers?
• What is the key to increasing a positive attitude in the workplace?

It's easier than you think to create a positive attitude in the workplace - simply, show appreciation for your co-workers.

How to Communicate With Co-workers Effectively (Part 1):

1. Give thanks. Thank co-workers for the work they do that makes your job easier - including the peers, managers and office assistants. Even thank the security guard for making you feel safe at work. Cultivate a thankful, positive attitude in the workplace, and in return you'll notice a change in how co-workers treat you.

2. Acknowledge a job well done. One of our favourite ways to create positive energy at work is to give a "Most Valuable Player" award. Once a month, stage a vote for the office MVP - asking each voter to include why their nominee should get the award. You can even have employees vote on what the award will be, from premium parking to a tiara or crown.

3. Celebrate. Take the time to celebrate birthdays, holidays, life changes and achievements. Not sure how to celebrate? Bring in a football cake and create winners days; bake cookies and bring them to work; or put up a graffiti poster where people can leave positive comments.

RECHARGE YOURSELF

A favourite quote of mine is "A dead battery can't charge a dead battery." Stop complaining about negative work attitudes and lend your own energy to creating a more positive attitude in the workplace. Be the office live wire!

Stay Positive Check-up Questions:

• How can one person increase the positive attitude in the workplace?
• What specific things can someone do to tap into the energy of others?
• How can you maintain a more energetic and positive attitude in the workplace?

Bringing more energy to work can seem draining. But everyone we've talked to who tries it finds that they get more energy in return.

How to Communicate with Co-workers Effectively:

1. Be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm is infectious. If you're going to spend eight hours a day at work, why not make it more than just tolerable. Make an effort to smile, laugh, and enjoy your job. If you work to create a more positive attitude in the workplace, others will follow.

2. Practice random acts of kindness. Each day try to do something kind and helpful. Offer to cover for a coworker so they can attend their kid's soccer game, bring a busy colleague a cup of coffee, or volunteer for a project. You don't have to create elaborate situations, just keep your eyes out for opportunities to do a good deed.

3. Look for opportunities to have fun. We all know someone who can make anything fun--and make time fly. Be that person. It's amazing how a joke here and a silly celebration there can breathe life into a stale office. Before you know it, other people will start coming to work with more bounce in their step.

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME

Now is the perfect time to find a way to contribute to the greater good in your workplace. No matter how busy you are, look for five minutes that you can give every day. Others are sure to appreciate your efforts and you might even enjoy it.

Stay Positive Checkup Questions:

• How do you find opportunities to volunteer?
• What are the best places to volunteer?
• Isn't it best to volunteer outside of your organization?

Try these strategies for effective volunteering:

How to communicate with Co-workers Effectively (Part 2):

1. Pitch in. If your office coffee pot or refrigerator seem to become a science project, break the cycle by pitching in to clean it out once a week. Then encourage others to help out. Even relatively small things (like a clean place to store your lunch) can dramatically improve the positive attitude in the workplace.

2. Contribute to the community. Instead of getting sucked into office drama, create positive energy by volunteering outside of the office. Explore topics that are interesting to you such as homelessness, drama or adult literacy then find an existing program that needs volunteers. We've done all of the above and we were paid back a hundredfold.

3. Don't overlook the need within. Recently we were in a grocery store that was holding a fundraiser for another employee who had medical problems. They talked at length about how this brought everyone closer. When looking for a project, don't overlook the needs and concerns of your co-workers.

AVOID NEGATIVE WORK ATTITUDES

Negative work attitudes create a vicious cycle that can rob energy from an organization. If you're famous for your awful moods and stinging commentary, try something new.

Stay Positive Checkup Questions:

• Can you resist sarcasm?
• Do you look for the good in people?
• Do you avoid stabbing people in the back?

Avoiding negative work attitudes is easier than it might seem.

How to communicate with Co-workers Effectively (Part 3):

1. Resist sarcasm. One of us grew up on the East Coast where sarcasm seems to be as natural as breathing. It's tough to break the cycle of sarcasm, but it's worth the trouble. If you're feeling sarcastic, challenge yourself to come up with something clever to say that energizes the positive attitude in the workplace, rather than depleting your co-worker's energy.

2. Look for the good. It's easy to get caught in an office drama trap. Instead of blaming and gossiping, focus on the good qualities of your co-workers. You'll be surprised by how much of a positive attitude in the workplace this will create and how much more productive you and your co-workers will be.

3. Stab 'em in the front. This came from one of our uncles. He was fond of saying, "Friends stab friends in the front." Again, resist the temptation to stab co-workers in the back. Instead, challenge yourself to be honest with co-workers without being mean.

 

HOW DO NEGATIVE & POSITIVE ATTITUDES AFFECT THE WORKPLACE?

Workplace attitudes have an effect on every person in the organization, from the employees to the company owner. Attitudes help to develop the prevailing workplace environment that determines employee morale, productivity and team-building abilities. Understanding how positive and negative attitudes affect the workplace is an important tool in creating a harmonious workplace.

 

VALIDATION

The prevailing workplace attitude adds validation to events that occur within the workplace. For example, if there is a prevailing negative attitude, then the announcement of a drop in revenue is met with expectation rather than creating a sense of urgency. The same announcement in a workplace with a positive attitude would be met with the sense that something in the business process is not working properly and must be rectified. The prevailing sense of optimism in the face of bad news helps validate the strong feeling of teamwork the company has developed.

COMPETITION

Attitudes do not necessarily create competition in the workplace, but they enhance the competitive environment. A negative attitude in the workplace creates an atmosphere of distrust among employees and causes employees to attempt to achieve success at the expense of each other. In a workplace with a positive attitude, competition is seen as a motivator that inspires employees to perform at their best to improve productivity.

CREATIVITY

Staff creativity is important for a small business in developing new ideas and coming up with creative solutions to company issues. A positive workplace attitude encourages creativity because employees feel that their ideas will contribute to the success of the organization. A negative attitude restricts creativity as employees do not feel obliged to contribute to company growth.

RETENTION

One of the more direct effects of attitude in the workplace is employee retention. A positive workplace encourages employees to become involved in company success. Employees invite career development so that they may be part of future company projects. A negative attitude leads to turnover and a loss of experienced staff members, which degrades the company's ability to grow.

 

 

5 ATTITUDES TO GET YOU AHEAD IN THE WORKPLACE

You are looking for a career booster. You are possibly past your first year mark at work. You have somewhat learned the ropes of your position but you feel you are slowing down.

So, what are some of the attitudes in the workplace that can help you get ahead at work? There are many positive attitudes that can help you do that. In fact, the value of these attitudes is they make you more motivated and hence, give you a career boost.

ATTITUDES TO GET YOU AHEAD IN THE WORKPLACE

1. ENTHUSIASTIC

I know, how can you ever feel enthusiastic about work especially when you already feel sluggish with the same work after a few years? It is precisely this reason I ask you to be enthusiastic. To be enthusiastic at work is about a mental state. You need to make the decision to be enthusiastic. Start by saying, “I will be an eager participant in this project or task.”

Attack your task with energy. Do not drag your feet. The more you tell yourself, “This is so boring,” or whatever the excuse maybe the worse you will feel. Get interested in the work and the energy will come naturally. Then decide to be eagerly involved. Being enthusiastic and energetic are attitudes in the workplace that can get you ahead. You cannot get ahead without energy.

2. EFFICIENT

Strive to be the most efficient worker in your team. According to Webster’s Universal College Dictionary, to be efficient means “performing or functioning effectively with the least waste of time and effort.” When you are effective, you are producing the intended result. When you are efficient you do it with the least waste of time and effort. That means you are capable and competent.

If you carry with you the attitude in the workplace of constantly striving to be the most efficient worker, then you will sooner or later get ahead in your career. You will get a career boost because you are the most capable and competent on the team.

3. EXCELLENCE

Of the five attitudes in the workplace, this one probably calls for you to give yourself some pressure. A little pressure is good since it makes you push yourself harder. Strive for excellence in everything you do. Do not be contented with good. Go for great.

Exceed expectations by knowing good is sometimes not good enough. Give everything your utmost best. You will naturally see how this becomes your career booster. When you strive for excellence in everything you do, you quite naturally surpass others in your work. That gets you ahead.

4. EARLY

Have you ever thought about being early as an attitude in the workplace that can get you ahead? Yes, especially when your workplace practices flexi time. Many people take flexi time for granted. They stroll in and out at their own pace, not knowing they have probably wasted productive time.

Start early at work. Some of my most productive days are those I start early before the phone rings and before my staff walks in with questions. Clear your e-mails from last night, craft that important e-mail when there are no disturbances.

5. EASY

Make every effort to be the easiest to work with in the office. Now, I am not saying compromise on your need for excellence. For example, this means not to complain and grumble each time there is a team meet. No one likes to work with someone who nags all the time.

When you are easy to work with, you make working enjoyable for the rest too. Such attitudes in the workplace is welcomed everywhere and you make yourself a competitive edge of any team. This competitive edge is your career booster.

There is no need for complicated plans to get a career boost. Simple steps with these attitudes in the workplace can get you ahead in your career.

HOW TO BUILD POSITIVE WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS

Building workplace relationships is an important component of being successful in your career. This doesn’t mean you need to be completely extroverted in every situation, but it does mean you need to make an effort to get to know the people with whom you work and learn about what skills and abilities they bring to the table.

Although you are at work to do a job, it will be a much more pleasant experience if you enjoy the company of the people on your team or in your department, so try to get off to a good start. The expression about only getting one chance to make a first impression is absolutely true, so make sure you put your best foot forward each and every time you have an opportunity to build new workplace relationships.

If you’re giving your best effort every day, your co-workers will begin to realize they can depend on you to do a good job. Also, as hard as it may be sometimes, try to have a good attitude at work. No one likes to work with someone who is constantly negative and complains about every little task.

HOW TO BUILD POSITIVE WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS

Here are a few additional tips to encourage positive workplace relationships:

·         Be friendly and encouraging to co-workers.

·         Be responsible – if you say you’re going to do something, do it. If you’re unable to complete a task for some reason, make sure information is communicated to all team members who would be impacted.

·         If you share an office, be considerate. Find out how your office mate works and be respectful. For example, some people need to work in complete silence, while others enjoy background music. Make sure you’re not inadvertently making your office mate crazy with your personal habits.

·         Understand that people are unique and dwell on their positive qualities, not their negative qualities. It’s acceptable to not be friends with everyone, but try to at least be professional and cordial in your interactions.

·         Rise above office gossip. No one wants to earn the reputation of being the office busybody.

·         Communicate, communicate, communicate! Your co-workers are not mind readers, so make sure you’re communicating with them and your manager on a regular basis.

HOW TO OVERCOME WORKPLACE FEARS

You’ve been working at a company for a while now. You do what you’re supposed to do: show up on time, get your work done, get along with everyone, and avoid causing problems – until now. Impressed with all of your hard work, your boss has asked you to give a presentation – A total nightmare for you since you are terrified of public speaking. Obviously, you want to get out of it, and start thinking things like, What if they don’t like my presentation? What if I forget what to say?

Public speaking is just one of the many workplace fears employees have. According to an article titled, “Do You Suffer From Workplace Anxiety?” by Jenna Goudreau, interacting with authority figures, taking on new challenges, being noticeably nervous, and being a perfectionist are some of the most common anxiety issues in the workplace.

I have found the most common fear in my years of training and that is a sense of self-doubt in their overall performance and ability to lead others has become more common in the workplace.

HOW TO OVERCOME

WORKPLACE FEARS

Below are some steps you can take to overcome workplace fears:

1. IDENTIFY NEGATIVITY

In order to address fear, you need to recognize that a key driver for this fear is derived from your own perceptions. Although it might be easier said than done, our perceptions about the things that scare us could definitely be changed.

“The first thing I advise my clients to do when faced with such fears is to identify and label these negative thoughts when they happen,”. “In some cases, it’s easy for us to catch ourselves in negative self-talk where we put ourselves down.”

For example, say you are nervous about giving a presentation in front of your work colleagues and you feel an overwhelming sense of nervousness. My advice is to identify your inner voice that narrates the situation. If you perceive your nervousness as a testament to your incapability to successfully deliver a presentation, this is where the problem lies. You need to identify it when it happens in order to take the next step towards overcoming such negativity.

2. REFRAME THE SITUATION

After you’ve identified your negative thoughts, you can take steps towards changing your perception of the situation.

In the case of our presentation dilemma, you need to reframe your perception in order to recognize that your nervousness is natural, and that it’s not reflective of your ability to be successful in giving this presentation.

“We also have to remind ourselves through this reframing process that there’s a reason why we were asked to give this talk – perhaps it’s because of our familiarity with the work,” he said. “Or perhaps because you’ve shown an aptitude for conveying ideas and information in a manner that resonates with others.”

By reframing the situation, in this case, the nerves are eased because the focus has shifted from our fears to what we can contribute to those that will be listening to the presentation.

3. LET GO

For the situations we don’t seem to have any control over, it’s important to learn to let go.

“For many people, this can be the biggest hurdle to overcome,”, “until they realize that this is really nothing more than an anchor that’s weighing them down and consequently making them feel like they’re incapable of making any changes to the situation.”

The last thing a company or organization needs is an employee who will bring uncertainty to the team because they’re focused on things that they’re not able to control, instead of the things in their lives they cannot control.

“If we develop this understanding about the impact our internal perceptions have,”, “and the ways… of how to reframe them, we’ll have a much easier time addressing these fears instead of letting them get the best of us.”

STAY POSITIVE: THOUGHTS FOR THE WORKPLACE DURING A TOUGH ECONOMY

Times are tough, but your own negativity could be making work miserable for you and for your co-workers. Sure, it's tough to keep positive thoughts for the workplace when the economy is struggling. But positive employees make for a positive work environment. It's important to reach out with positive energy to co-workers, even when you're running low on positive thoughts for the workplace.

Here are some tips on what makes a positive work environment.

BE APPRECIATIVE. Most corporations are looking for teamwork today. When was the last time you verbally congratulated a co-worker or threw a surprise birthday party for another employee? Create a more satisfying work life by looking for ways to celebrate your team.

RECHARGE YOURSELF. Work can let the air out of anyone's tires. That's why it's so important to look for opportunities to energize your workplace. We've heard all kinds of crazy tricks for raising individual and office morale - from covering for a co-worker so they could stay home with a sick pet, to basketball games and (our favorite) office volleyball. One boss actually bought volleyball nets and strung them across the top of his team's cubicles. Whenever work got slow, the volleyball game began. What can you do to light a spark in your office?

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME. Volunteering works on a number of levels. You can give a gift to the entire office by cleaning the office fridge. Or recruit co-workers into a team of volunteers to help out a local school or homeless shelter. Don't limit your efforts to events that are office related. You might try staffing a phone line during a broadcast telethon, tutoring, or teaching science to kids. Doing good work outside of the office can improve positive thoughts for the workplace.

AVOID NEGATIVITY. Lily Tomlin once said, "No matter how cynical you get, it is never enough." Take charge of those thoughts, you're the only one who can. Your feet haven't gone anywhere without your brain giving the orders! Where ever you let those thoughts go-your attitude, words and actions will not be far behind. Isn't it amazing how negative just breeds negative!

You'll notice this wasn't a list of actions but workplace attitudes. It's your workplace attitude plus your actions that lead to your altitude in a company. Learn how to give, and watch your career rise with your attitude.