The Winning Attitude

The only thing you can control is your attitude towards life. Have you heard this statement before- “please let’s be realistic”? That is a statement from the lips of a pessimist. Give a pessimist a half-glass of water and he will tell you it is half-empty. An optimist will always see it as half-full! Attitude really can mean everything. For better or for worse, the way we see the world of work influences the way it appears to us. And things are going to always work for us based on whether we choose to generate a positive or negative energy.

People with winning attitude possess endless opportunities to do better in the future, excel in their chosen field of endeavour and become the next potential success story. A winning attitude nurtures friendships and professional relationships and is not influenced by external factors but positive reactions from within. Authentic attitude is about making a choice to work and hope for the best while being ready to face the worst of odds. This is not about psyching up yourself [without substance] about what you are capable of accomplishing but being ready to accept your challenges for what they are and believing that you have the power to turns things around the way you want them to be. A winning attitude at work will even wear out and gain the respect of the most difficult of bosses.

How do you maintain a winning attitude?

Be in control.  When faced with a challenge, you don’t have to fall apart; find ways to see how you can overcome it. Choose to see the bright side of things. Even a bad clock is correct twice a day. Take responsibility for your work, life and actions and never open up yourself to the mentality of a victim of an unfair world or system that will always let you down. Set boundaries. Limit your exposure to people with wrong attitude. Try to trim them out of your life, and choose the kind of association you want to keep. You are only as good as the company you keep. As they say, if you want to soar with the eagles, you have to stop hanging out with the ducks. Take charge!

Believe in the best possible outcome. Develop your self-esteem and self-confidence. Nobody can make you look inferior at work without your permission. Credit yourself with a reasonable level of intelligence and believe you can achieve the best possible outcome. Always imagine the best possible outcome of events, or at least focus on the most optimistic aspects of a situation. This does not mean that you are reality-blind; it just provides you with a fresh perspective. Infact, this helps you to create realities [perceptions, aspirations and partnerships] that matter.

Be Tough. A winning attitude does not mean ignoring the problem entirely; it means understanding that setbacks are inevitable, often temporary, and that you have the skills and abilities to combat the challenges you face.  What you are dealing with may be difficult, but it is important to remain hopeful and positive about a brighter future.  This attitude will inspire a sense of hopefulness and the confidence that is required to take full advantage of the opportunities that do exist.  The whole world cannot be against you. There must be at least one person who believes in you and that should spur your confidence to dare the odds. A set-back can become a set-up for a powerful come-back. You know what, ultimately, things will work out for you if you persist. With enough persistence every resistance gives way. Keep doing what you think is the right thing to do and you’ll be surprised how much colour you can add to the world of work. Who says successful people are immune to mistakes?

Practice living in the present.

Right now is life. Don’t miss it. People often preoccupy themselves with the past and the future.  But life is happening right now. The most important block in the building is the one you are laying right now. You can’t learn something or remember something that’s happening now if your mind is stuck in another time. So don’t let your life and your mind slip away. Remember, right now is the only moment guaranteed to you. 

Be open to opportunities. Take active steps toward realizing your goals rather than passively letting things happen to you. Be realistic about the risks associated with all your actions but don’t let them get in your way. Embrace every new opportunity and be determined to make the most of it. Stay alert to maximize your successes and minimize your failures. Accept every project with a smile, work hard at it and you can be sure of a salary raise or promotion at work when the opportunity beckons.

Re-condition yourself to a winning attitude today. It is possible!