Unlock the Power of Positive Attitude in the Workplace

Is a positive workplace attitude important?

Does having the right attitude affect the workplace, and how? Yes, I believe it does. A positive attitude attracts people; not only does a positive attitude in your workplace make your day great, but it also affects your co-workers. A positive attitude can make your work more fun. It brings out the best in you and creates a warm working environment. Moreover, a positive attitude improves productivity and enables one to develop skills and abilities. It builds lasting relationships that results in good workflow and transparent communication between employer, employees and colleagues. It allows colleagues to ask for help freely when needed because a positive attitude makes a healthy and peaceful work environment!

I will share some of my personal experiences.

As a receptionist, I work primarily with people physically and remotely, where interaction is done electronically and telephonically. I see myself as the face of the organisation, and this made me realise that I need to be more aware of my attitude.

I experienced cases where clients sometimes shouted at me (even though I was not the reason for their problems) because I represented the entire organisation from their perspective. Their frustration would be directed at me, and I would be talked down on just because I am a receptionist. What do I know? Some clients uttered statements such as “I pay your salary”. This was hurtful until I consciously decided to maintain a positive attitude; I always opt to stay calm and not react out of character in such demeaning situations.

Was it easy?

One may ask, Not at all! But that is the beauty of having the right attitude. Staying positive and not being influenced by other people’s inappropriate behaviour results in both parties (the client and company) being happy at the end of the day. Sometimes, I contemplated leaving my job, which was sometimes a lot to handle. But, I needed to find a way to help me cope with offensive people and to deal with difficult situations.

I did a self-introspection. I questioned if I wanted to go or stay, how guaranteed I was that things would improve, or if I would face the same challenges in a new environment. What would I do if I found myself in the same or worse situation in a different organisation? As we all know, demanding clients are everywhere! How confident am I that I will not face the same challenges with different clients or colleagues? Will I keep leaving every company because of how I am treated and what people say? I realised that I have no control over what people say or how they act or even reason about things. The only thing I have control over is how I conduct myself!

My attitude affects my response to things, how I handle situations, and my approach to people and things happening around me. I realised that I can always have the upper hand if I always keep a positive attitude; my actions and responses differentiate me from the other person.

How does a negative attitude affect the workplace?

I believe you cannot produce good fruits from a bad seed. A negative attitude reflects poorly on one’s work. The signs include missing essential deadlines, work not done correctly, less effort put into daily tasks, and unpleasant relationships with colleagues and clients. Lack of enthusiasm. It can also create a drift between colleagues, and work can be affected by decreasing productivity. Working with someone with a negative attitude is draining, as it can shadow your spirit.

How to create a positive workplace attitude?

I found the best way to create a positive attitude is to take responsibility for myself, my actions, and everything within my control. I came across an inspiring article about attitude on the internet and loved it. It states, “Your attitude at work can determine the quality of your professional relationship, affect your productivity level and determine your overall success, including having an impact on factors such as potential pay raises and promotions”.

In conclusion, attitude plays a significant role in the workplace, and you must always apply a positive attitude. Be yourself; never allow yourself to be consumed by negativity. Limit spending time with negative people; they are energy-consuming. Remember, you always have a choice; learn which conversations to engage in and which to let go of. Not everything needs your involvement. Be wise and focus on the positive side!

Quote from: https://www.likedin.com (last paragraph).