Why Your Attitude Is so Important in the Small Business World
The saying “attitude is everything,” isn’t far from the truth: especially when it comes to the world of business.
Your attitude doesn’t just impact how you see the world –it also influences how the world sees you. Much of your success in life, and in the workplace comes down to your attitude –whether you wake up on a positive note, with your sights set high, believing that you can succeed, or whether you just try to make it through the day, responding to one issue after another, plugging along in responsive mode.
“One of the most important steps you can take toward achieving your greatest potential in life is to learn to monitor your attitude and its impact on your work performance, relationships and everyone around you,” says author and dynamic life coach Keith Harrell.
Harrell says that the unfortunate fact is that people generally don’t have a high level of what he calls ‘attitude awareness.’ “They’ll know if they are hungry or if their feet hurt,” he says, “But they usually don’t have a good handle on their attitude. That is a mistake because attitude is everything.”
If you think that a bad attitude is inconsequential –think again! A negative attitude can bleed into more aspects of your work environment, resulting in long lasting consequences.
Here are just a few reasons why a positive perspective matters –a lot.
Create a Better Atmosphere
The sad fact is that a whopping 70 percent of US employees are unhappy at work. This is unfortunate since workers who have positive thinking can contribute to a better workplace for everyone. Business leaders know that one bad apple spoils the bunch; the flip side of this is that positive people can help cut down on stress in the workplace and can even improve the team’s work ethic, creating a better, more productive atmosphere. Attitude feeds directly into business success for more than just the contributor.
Happier Coworkers
This isn’t to say that you’re responsible for other people’s happiness, but at the same time it’s interesting to note the importance of attitude and its impact on your coworkers. A pessimistic person projects negative thoughts to coworkers, clients, and those around them, but the same can be said for a positive outlook as well. It doesn’t matter what your position is at work, if you have a positive approach, you can influence those around you with that positive energy.
Better Leadership Opportunities
Great leaders aren’t those who lead by intimidation or threat, rather, a great leader is someone who people want to follow. Having a great attitude can help to open up new opportunities for leadership. Great leaders know that bad news happens, and that things don’t always go as planned, but whether something is positive or negative they are always ready to get back up and keep moving. They remain positive and in control of the situation, and in turn, inspire their team members to be the same. Regardless of your position, it’s important to maintain a positive outlook –after all, you never know when you will be up for a promotion, and remember: a positive attitude will help you to get far.
Improved Work Ethic
A positive outlook can also lead to an improved work ethic. Being able to set goals and feeling confident in your ability to reach them will help you to go far in life. With the right attitude and a solid goal, you’ll be able to do great things. According to a study by the University of California, Riverside, titled ‘Does Happiness Promote Career Success,’ professors concluded that ‘happy people’ perform better than their less happy peers.
Teamwork
Want to be a great team player? It’s no secret that a great attitude is necessary part of working with others. A great outlook can help to build a sense of comradery in the workplace, making it easier for employees to work together. According to the University of California, Riverside study, happy people also receive more support from coworkers.
As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” It’s attitude that makes all the difference.
Having a positive attitude can have a big impact not only your outlook, but those who you work with as well. Choose to be positive, put things in perspective, and focus on your goals and problem-solving. Choosing to maintain a good attitude will have a real impact on your career –and help you to get the most out of life every day.
