Positive attitude is key to success at work

We have met people who are always complaining either about their boss, their work, their home or social life. At the same time, we also see people who are perpetually smiling and are happy. Does this mean that they are blessed in life with no problems or difficulties?  Or is it just a positive attitude?

The difference that makes one flourish, cherish, and perish is a person’s attitude. Attitude cannot be thrust upon anybody. It is a self-nourishing ingredient that an individual should possess. In today’s corporate world, we should look at this fundamental aspect rather than focus heavily on skills and experience since these can be obtained over time. The best way to go about it in the corporate world is to have good leaders who can lead by example with positive and solution-oriented attitudes.

What is an attitude? In general, it can be defined as the way an individual looks at life. It is the outward reflection of what is taking place on the inside. It becomes his or her personality…it pervades their feelings and becomes their actions. Attitude is one of the most important aspects of life and a key to interpersonal relationships.

It is construed that when we think about the basic elements of human relationships, we think primarily about the attitude we each bring to relationships, whether they are personal or professional in nature. What is the first thing you remember about someone you meet?  Obviously, it is their attitude!

Events, circumstances, and messages – both positive and negative – can affect one’s attitude. A positive attitude is contagious like common cold. It is a priceless possession for personal fulfillment and career success. Being positive puts a person in command of his entire faculties which is an essential element for creating a positive workplace. And of course, no one can be positive all the time!

In fact, the positive attitude of a person will be appreciated more at a work place. In recent years, a major change has taken place in the workforce: the generational and cultural mix of employees has become more diversified.

Whereas, in spite of different mix of workforce, the performance standards remain the same. Business is complex and competitive – with comparable resources, including people. People with a positive attitude are looking up and forward and are more likely to work to higher standards of quality, safety, and productivity – individually and as a team.

Working with/near a person with a positive attitude is an energising experience; they can change the tone and morale of the department and make others feel more upbeat. Sometimes, the reason people lack a positive attitude is simply that they don’t realise that they have a negative one! A positive workplace is about the people and their positive outlook about their work and the organisation that make the business thrive.

The war for talent subsists. Do organisations hire and retain people with positive or negative attitudes? The answer is obvious…they hire for attitude; the mechanics of the job can be taught.

An organisation gets its periphery from the attitude of its people – its leaders, its supervisors, front-line, back-office, entry-level and long-term employees. Employees want to feel valued and appreciated, as a result, they stay with an organisation. The higher the engagement levels, the more their attitude barometer rises. The higher the attitude barometer rises, the more business results improve. Positive thinking is not a new age concept that only optimistic people practice. It’s a necessity for people who want to live happy and successful in lives. Behavioural and psychology studies have proven that individuals who think positive thoughts are happier, more resilient and they tend to achieve goals more often than people who succumb to negative self-talk. Berating yourself mentally, studies show, is the biggest obstacle you face to achieving a sense of well-being and success in life. You are your own worst enemy when you denigrate and reprimand yourself through your thoughts.

A person with positive attitude is a satisfied person – at large. And a satisfied employee is more productive, works more diligently and enhances the organisation’s brand value. Satisfied employees demonstrate commitment to service in every respect. Pessimistic employees, on the other hand, work to the advantage of your competition while on your payroll. They are usually depressed and transmit these emotions not only to fellow colleagues but also to all those who are connected.

Building and maintaining healthy, effective relationships in all directions – with people you work, people you work with, and people who work for you – is a key to success. Business is a team sport. Nothing contributes more to the process of building effective work relationships than a positive attitude.

More business successes are won on attitude than technical achievement. A supervisor who demonstrates and knows how to build a positive attitude can lead a departmental workforce with only average experience and skills to achieve high productivity and successful performance. It’s called “teamwork” and it happens often!

It’s important to remember that we all have a choice – to be either positive or negative in any situation – and we make those choices every day. By keeping our power and being aware of our own attitudes and choices, we can protect ourselves from external circumstances and people’s negativity. Safeguard your attitude by solving personal conflicts quickly, taking the “high road” if someone behaves unreasonably or unfairly, insulating or distancing yourself from a person with whom you have a repeated conflict, focusing on the work and changing your traffic pattern to avoid people who pull your attitude down. Remember: Your attitude belongs to you and you alone!

Be open to new people, ideas and processes that create positive changes and improved bottom-line results. The business world consists of many people who are different from you. We are dependent on each other to achieve common goals. We need to understand and work effectively with all the human resources. Opportunities for us to learn about other generations, backgrounds and cultures broaden our perspective with new ideas, talents, and points of view – it all affects bottom-line results!

A word of caution – don’t go overboard by becoming a noisy cheerleader who spends more effort on projecting your attitude than nurturing it. Above all, don’t try to be someone you are not!  Be who you are… Project the real thing! Be authentic!
Life is a learning journey and all we can do is to strive to do our best each day.

A wise person once said, “If you place more emphasis on keeping a positive attitude than on making money, you’ll be successful and the money will take care of itself.”
Be good to yourself, enjoy the ride and make a ‘Positive Impact’ on your career and workplace with a positive attitude!

(The writer is a HR Consultant)