Attitude is Everything
by Sherry Galbreath
sherry@performtogrow.com
A good friend recently decided to apply for a promotion at work. This job had been open more than once since she joined the company, but she had never seriously considered applying until now. Why?
It’s very comfortable to be beneath the radar. You have the opportunity to tell everyone how messed up the company is and not have to do anything about it. You can sit in your office and do your job, knowing that there’s more you could contribute, but “they” wouldn’t appreciate it anyway. There are a hundred excuses not to attempt something new – and risky.
When the job came open, I said to her, “You could do that job better than Michael.” And she suddenly realized that she probably could. And it would be far more productive to at least try, rather than continue to sit back and wait for someone else to make a difference.
Here are a few strategies that can help develop a good workplace attitude:
1. Become aware of negativity. You don’t even realize all the bad feelings swirling around the office until you stop to pay attention. There are things that need improvement, certainly, but complaining won’t help. Find the positive and dwell on that instead.
2. Make a list of your accomplishments. Everyone does more things right than wrong. Make a list of the good things you accomplish in just one day, and feel valued.
3. Don’t take it personally. If you are doing good work, and a coworker has a problem, don’t assume it’s about you. You don’t know what’s going on in his or her world.
4. Respect the people around you. Remember the Golden Rule? It still works.
5. Take responsibility. You aren’t a victim. No one is forcing you to be here or do this job. Take responsibility when things go wrong, and credit when they go right.
6. Look for opportunity. There will always be a way for you to contribute more, or in a different way. Take a class, learn something new, apply it to your work or home life.
7. Be a team player. Offer help when it’s needed, and ask when you are in need.
8. Accept change. Nothing is constant except change in most workplaces. Don’t look at change as a thing to be avoided, but embrace it as a way to make your situation better.
9. Look for the solution, not at the problem. Take the words “We can’t do that” out of your vocabulary and substitute “How could we make that happen?”
Will my friend get that promotion? I don’t know. But it’s good to try, and whatever happens, I know that her attitude will stay positive.
Sherry Galbreath is a partner of Performance Growth Partners Inc., a full service organizational improvement firm specializing in HR audits, corporate outplacement services, customer service assessments, customer service training, supervisory training, employee surveys, employee handbooks, teambuilding programs and team training, on-call and project based HR consulting services, outsourced HR services, employee retention programs, performance improvement programs, executive coaching, manufacturing process and operations improvement consulting, training and programs, safety assessments, safety training, strategic planning, employee retention programs, performance improvement programs, interim executive placement, conference speaking, keynote addresses, business turnaround consulting, healthcare consulting and a wide range of other services. Contact Sherry toll-free at (877) 739-4747 or e-mail her at sherry@performtogrow.com.
© 2007 Performance Growth Partners Inc.
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