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