Fostering a Success Attitude

Thomas Jefferson was right when he said, “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”

Your attitude affects everything from your health, your relationships, and your overall contentment. A good attitude is especially important in the work place; when you’re positive and willing, your co-workers will speak well of you and you are more likely to receive new responsibilities.

Improving your attitude, however, isn’t as easy as one, two, three. It requires effort to make an attitude adjustment, but the effects will undoubtedly put you on the path to success. Take a look at these tips on how to foster a success-driven attitude.

Take care of yourself. Simply put, the condition of your body affects the condition of your emotions. Getting the recommended amount of rest, exercising each day, and eating well gives you the physical stamina you need throughout the workday. When you do things to make your body feel good, it is easier to be aware of your attitude and emotions.

Pause and relax. Do you leave your work at work, or does it follow you home? Defining spaces of work and rest will help your attitude in a number of ways. When you take time to stop, rest, and do the things you love, you will actually enjoy your work much more. Your decision-making skills will also improve when you take a break to focus on something relaxing.

Be mindful. This phrase simply means that we should be aware of our emotions, and what triggers them in certain situations. A series of small incidents can cause our emotions to snowball into a sour attitude by the end of the day. Be mindful of what you are feeling and what is causing it. Once you identify the root of the problem, you have power to manage it. It may help to write down why you are feeling angry or stressed in order to get it off your mind.

Focus on the present. Trying to accomplish too many things at once can cause you to feel stressed and overwhelmed. Instead, take one step at a time by focusing on small, achievable goals.

Present positive affirmations to yourself and others. Success Magazine says that having a positive inner-dialogue is part of fostering a better attitude. We are all our worst critics, but learning to monitor our self-critic can help stop negativity in its tracks. It takes practice to spurn negative thoughts, but as you replace them with affirmations, a new positive outlook will ingrain itself instead.

Smile more. According to an article on U.S. News and World Report online, studies show that smiling more can directly affect your mood. The results proved that people who frown often are inclined to feel pain and sadness during the day, while those who smile are noticeably happier and more motivated.

Don’t let frustration take the wheel when you are faced with confrontation or stress. It’s easy to shut down when you are dealing with a difficult decision or a conflict. Instead, politely distance yourself from the situation to give yourself time to reset and think through an appropriate response. Try saying, “I’m feeling a little stressed and I need some time to think about this. Can we take a break and talk again after lunch?” Acknowledging your feelings lets other people know that you are being honest, and setting a time to revisit the conversation shows you care about the situation and plan to get back to it.

Your attitude determines your response to difficult situations and vice versa. Likewise your self-perception and other’s perception of you. Here at the Lee Group, we are inspired by successful attitudes and are committed to helping you build excellent workplace relationships. Contact us now to get in touch with our team of executive recruiters.