The whole point of having a positive attitude at work is to support taking positive actions when you may not want to or much feel like it. A positive person works daily on exercising a positive emotional and mental mindset, because doing so helps to “put off procrastinating.” The hard-hitting truth: Your positive attitude IS directly linked and locked into customer and employee satisfaction and co-worker confidence in your ability to deliver RESULTS. The communication rule: Talk…talk…talk is cheap but problem-solving results are priceless.
A NEW INSIGHTS COMMUNICATION POLL ON ATTITUDE
In a New Insights Communication poll on attitude, readers were asked a single, simple question that makes all the difference in the world of commerce and communication. The question was: “Overall, how would you rate your attitude as you go about your day?” Here’s how the results played out, and please realize that negative people will be the first ones to tell you that their attitude is outstanding when others find it bullish, narrow, boring, filled with “sweet rage” or just plain mean and obnoxious.
HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR ATTITUDE?
1. I HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE…..76.47%
2. I HAVE A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE….17.65%
3. I HAVE A NEUTRAL ATTITUDE……5.88%
BE FULL OF INTEGRITY…NOT FULL OF ‘IT’
So the results would suggest to the average Jack or Jill that 3 out of every 4 people that you and I run into in our daily work and family life are exhibiting a positive attitude replete with possibility thinking? I’m not betting my yacht on this fanciful thinking. In fact, my experience would suggest just the reverse (and I’m not blaming anyone): namely, that 3 out of 4 people I come into contact with daily act or feel pretty lowdown or neutral. It can’t be me making everyone feel bad, you cynically cautious skeptics!
SO ARE YOU A GOOD JUDGE OF YOUR OWN ATTITUDE, OR NOT?
So are you a good judge of your own attitude character? Perhaps not…due to insecurity you may think you are a legend in our own mind when subordinates can barely stomach you. You’ve no doubt guessed (I hope) that to truly get an “accurate reading or gauge” on a manager, leader’s or director’s attitude…the only reliable way to measure leader attitude…is to anonymously survey the people who work with the leader and ask the very same question. Thus, instead of getting the “see how good I am…see what I’m doing for everyone…see how secure I am…” you actually get the perceived truth instead of the manufactured “impression management.” Another example: Same goes for effectiveness as a parent—don’t ask the parent if he/she is good at parenting; ask the kids. Then combine the results to get a darn accurate portrait of effective vs. ineffective leadership.
COURAGE: WHY YOU CAN’T SEE THE NOSE ON YOUR FACE UNLESS A COACH HOLDS UP A MIRROR FOR YOU?
One of the central reasons that I am hired as an executive coach, for leadership development training and family business consulting, is to hold up a “mirror” to the leader about how his/her attitude might be perceived by co-workers and other manager leaders. Often, ego makes us think more highly of ourselves, and over-rate our performances, than are unjustified in the face of facts. Sadly, this is the same as lying to yourself when you get up in the morning to counter-insecurity.
THE WAITER AND WAITRESS TEST OF A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE ATTITUDE
Everybody may or may not love the attitude you demonstrate at work. Now, I realize nobody’s perfect, especially me and you, but you owe it to yourself to stop managing impressions and start managing accurate feedback about your attitude that may make you stop and think for a change. A quick attitude test: How you or someone you work with treats a waiter or waitress is a very good indication of their true attitude. If that person is demanding, rude or mean to a waiter or waitress—then I can pretty much guarantee you that that leader has a negative attitude but will tell you all day long how positive he/she is.
Previous New Insights Communication Polls have included “What’s Up With Your Confidence Level?”… “When You Argue, Are You Always Right?” … “Are You Shy or Stuck Up?”… “How Do You Handle Anger?”…“Are Men or Women Better Communicators?” “How Easily Are You Frustrated?” Read more about these challenging, growth producing topics, and other topics of personal and relationship interest here four minutes every day of the week to make change happen fast and last.
Dennis runs workshops on Leadership Communication, Change Management, Effective Communication Strategies, and Anger and Conflict Management, and other workshops or keynotes on positive psychological topics designed for your company, team or organization.