Do You Inspire or Incinerate?
Throughout my career, I have asked managers what they look for
in hiring new employees. The single most sought after
characteristic is a positive attitude. Knowledge can be learned
but a positive attitude cannot be taught and is recognized as
being critical for success. Yet, if attitude is so important,
why do we do so much to destroy it? (I use we, because as a
manager, I was guilty of having done some of the very things I
have outlined below.) The following are some things I have
learned that will enhance or destroy a positive attitude.
Demeanor. Early on in my career in Sales Management, it became
apparent to me that I could single-handedly affect the attitude
of the entire office just by my demeanor when I was visible to
the staff. If I smiled, they would smile and have a positive
attitude. My smile indicated to them that things were going well
with customers, with sales and in turn with revenues and the
safety of their jobs. If, on the other hand, I scowled at them,
they would hang their heads and generally be down at the mouth.
My negative attitude indicated to them that things weren