YOUR ATTITUDE – A SCENT OR A STENCH?

…How to Develop Your Attitude Towards Making A Difference

People may hear your words but they feel your attitude – John C. Maxwell

Jennifer is a wife, mother of two great kids and she works at a prestigious law firm. She has a daily routine of dropping off the kids at school and then grabbing a cup of espresso to kick start her usually long day. This happened every working day of the week.

One particular morning however, she had the additional duty of dropping off her husband at work because his car was under repair. By the time she had successfully dropped her kids and husband off, she was already 30 minutes behind schedule. Espresso must yet be bought. She practically runs into Star backs, ready to click and bounce only to meet this incredibly long queue. She looked down at her cellphone and staring back at her was a gazillion missed calls from her secretary and boss. One voicemail from her assistant told her she needed to be in the office posthaste. No, not as soon as possible, sooner than possible! Now her patience had grown dangerously thin.

She looked up and by some miracle, it was her turn. Jenny couldn’t care less how she treated the guy behind the counter, she just had to get to the office! The attendant took her order with so much calm and a smile. She was taken aback by his attitude. It was highly unexpected because she on the other hand had spoken very rudely to him, as had some numerous people before her. This guy wouldn’t stop smiling as he fixed her order. He looked happy at his job, like nothing could shake him off his mood. It was a very simple act but it meant the world to her at that point. All the built-up frustration from that morning dissolved and she responds with a small smile. In that moment, he turned around the course of her “long” day.

Attitude is a little thing that makes big differences

Hey, aren’t you intrigued by that narration?

One very important point I’d like to draw from this little experience with espresso guy is “Attitude”.

According to the Business dictionary, attitude is defined as “the predisposition or tendency to respond positively or negatively towards a certain idea, object, person or situation.”

Attitude influences an individual’s choice of action, and response to challenges, incentives and rewards (altogether called stimuli)

His attitude towards his job made all the difference.

Your attitude could either be a fragrance or a stench. It no doubt reflects in your action and how you treat other people. It defines your character. Let’s just say it’s the genetic material that wraps up in a million ways to form you.

Albert Einstein puts it perfectly when he said “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character”

Your disposition or response to a situation affects what eventually comes out of it. The state of your mind is your leverage to succeeding at any task before you.

Four major components of attitude are;

1. Affective – Emotions or feeling
2. Cognitive – Belief or opinions held consciously
3. Conative – Inclination for action
4. Evaluative – Positive or negative response to stimuli

Life is a universal stimulant. It throws us different baggage without warning and we are expected to be prepared to attack every situation that comes our way while maintaining a balance in engaging these four components. A positive attitude is like a magnet that draws on people. No one wants to work with a pessimist.

How to cultivate a healthy attitude?

1. Be deliberate about it
2. Choose to see the good in people
3. Treat every road block like a stepping stone

It is easy to dwell on the unfortunate events in your life, but keep in mind that life will never hand you what you want. You have to be determined to get it by giving all it takes. Resilience is key.

But while you are pursuing your goals, completing a task, fulfilling a target, don’t forget to be nice to people. Little acts of kindness no matter how little, matter.

Maintain a healthy outlook. In filling your Curriculum Vitae, one of the things that you might want to mention is your possession of a good interpersonal skill. Your attitude is a way of reflecting that.

Don’t throw a pity party, no one wants to attend anyways. See a cup that’s half filled instead of one that’s half empty.

Positive attitude is profitable to all ages, sexes and social status.

As a young person, your attitude will either open doors for you or shut them in your face.

Attitude is not passive. Think it, and then do it!

In the comment section below, please give us further ideas on how else a person can develop a good attitude. Or send us a personal message by clicking here.