Our attitude affects our relationships, happiness, lifestyle and, success. A positive attitude is what your co-workers and customers will pick up on, whether it is face to face or over the telephone. Customers always want the best experience possible and they will judge your business on how easy and pleasant it is to do business with you.
In a book titled, “The Power of Choice” the author Michael C. Hyter discussed the capacity-building mindset and how human capacities are not fixed, which means that we have the power to develop new skills and capabilities including training ourselves to have a more positive attitude.
Hyter likens learning new skills to the same as driving a car. We get behind the wheel and practice. Work-Related skills or attitudes are no different, there will be mistakes, there will be lessons to be learned and the more we practice the more opportunities we have to learn and the more developed we will become.
I recently saw a quote
Archie Manly said that way we see ourselves reflects to other people. Manley continues to discuss that how we relate to others determines our success or failure in everything we do. Your attitude is an expression to the outside world of who you are. Thus, having and portraying a positive attitude will assist you with your relationship-building skills.
Part of having a positive attitude includes gratitude. By embracing gratitude in every situation, you will find magnificent things happen around you. There are simple things you can do, I did a search on the app store and typed in “gratitude” you can install a gratitude journal, daily motivation quotes there are countless tools to help you retrain your brain to have a positive attitude and have gratitude in the world around you even among the thorns and trials in life.
As previously stated, being positive is learned. Based on many psychological tests, happy people have a special quality that enables them to live a better life and that is optimism! Optimism is a learnable quality. To learn this quality, it starts with surrounding yourself with happy people. Optimistic people also seek for the growth opportunities in every challenge or problem.
Sir Winston Churchill said it best:
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
It is easy to be cheerful when things are going well, it is much more challenging to remain positive when there are unexpected challenges.
Tips for keeping a positive attitude at work.
- Smile (even when you don’t feel like smiling).
When I lived in Utah, I met a woman who was a mother of 12 and an author. There was a panel discussion where a few of her daughters talked about this remarkable woman. One of the things they said was even when she was upset, she was smiling. We have all heard that science says it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. Smiling at others is inviting, it puts people at ease and often opens the Get those smiles on!
- Surround yourself with positive people.
Have you ever associated with a person who was also so negative that you found after speaking with them you were left drained? It is important to be around people who are your advocates, cheerleaders, who inspire you and help you be the best person you can be.
- Fill your mind with positive input.
This goes back to the app store. I challenge each of you to type in the word “gratitude” in the app store and find and download and app that will help inspire you to be more positive today.
- Control your language.
Controlling your language is more than offensive swear words. You have the power to control your language about how you speak about your company, your boss, your co-workers, etc.
- Create a routine for the day.
Routines are important, they provide a sense of purpose and structure for the day. This does not mean that challenges won’t arise and routines won’t be thrown off. Having a set routine makes it easier to have things to look forward to which helps with optimism.
- Be nice to others
The old saying “Kill others with Kindness”. We always want to strive to make a good first impression because you may not get a second opportunity.
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- Do not rely on an outside source of positivity.
Find happiness within and share that with others.
- Create high points on each day of the week.
Daily high points should be small and simple, no requiring money, a walk, solitude, meditation, reading a non-work-related book. Lunch with a friend.
- Assume responsibility, and choose your response.
We all make mistakes, that is part of growing and daily life. We do have the power to choose on how we respond to those mistakes. We can blame others or circumstances or we can take responsibility and seek the learning opportunity in those challenges.
- Breathe deeply.
When things get overwhelming, breathing deeply calms your body down which allows you to think clearer and have a better attitude.
- Stop complaining.
I love the character Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh. Eeyore has a way of always seeing the world darkly. His friends will stop by to check on him but they never stay long because he is always so “ho-hum”. An Eeyore person can be draining and exhausting on others. We will have Eeyore moments or days, days when things just go wrong. The thing Eeyore does he never sees the beauty in the world around him. Don’t be an Eeyore.
- Laugh often.
- Be curious and embrace learning.
Learning new things is exciting, and excitement brings enthusiasm and optimism. There are always opportunities to learn new things that will help us personally and professionally.
People may not remember what you said – but they will always remember how you made them feel.
Cheryl Viola, MBA, Executive Director
Sources:
http://www.archiemanley.com/how-a-positive-attitude-changes-negative-circumstances/
The Power of Choice, Hyter, Michael, 2011, pp 24
https://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/positive-attitude-happy-people-positive-thinking/
https://wheniwork.com/blog/18-simple-ways-to-keep-a-positive-attitude-at-work/
http://www.redbirdsnest.com/important-message/attitude-is-everything
https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/internet-digital-workplace