Etchings on the Attic Wall

Highly Effective Work Habits:  Attitude

Most highly effective workers have positive attitudes.  Almost everything you do on the job extends from the right attitude and has a tremendous effect on your goals.  Poor attitudes lead to decreased motivation, achievements, and communication.  Attitudes are often times much more powerful than intelligence or knowledge when it comes to getting the job done properly.  Have you ever noticed how your productivity drops when you are sad, irritated, or indifferent?

Your attitude is affected by words and emotions.  Do you let people “get to you” by things they say or do?  How about the way you talk to yourself?  Do you mentally praise yourself all the time or do you talk down to yourself?  Listen to your own thoughts sometimes and you might be surprised how often you speak to yourself in the negative.  If you let yourself get affected by critics, just realize that you are only in competition with yourself and you are best served by just filtering them out.  Here is a great quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that speaks to this point:

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”

Motivation is also huge in affecting your attitude.  What motivates you?  Obviously, if you are not driven by anything (or something negative), your attitude is going to suffer as well as your work.  If you find yourself in this situation, try to find positive, incentive-based motivation in your daily tasks.  Examples might include:

• If I take this training, it will help me grow with the organization and make me a more valuable employee.
• If I complete this work on-time, management will have more faith in my ability to deliver quality work.  This might lead to a raise or promotion.
• If I go above and beyond the call of duty and complete some extra work for the business, I will develop a better relationship with them.

There is a great organization out there called the “Edge Learning Institute”.  They specialize in helping companies improve their individual and team performance competencies.  They have a course called “Increasing Human Effectiveness” that is designed to enhance personal awareness, critical thinking skills, attitudes, and behavior change skills.  I’ve been through this course myself and it helped with my motivation and focus.  I would highly recommend it.