How's Your Attitude?

None of us is perfect; we all have little personality flaws which hold us back - but we also have the same opportunity to ensure our personal growth continues along a healthy path. Success awaits those with healthy attitudes, ethics, and behavior. Climbing the corporate ladder is easier for those with healthy attitudes, in fact, success in any endeavor is easier for those with healthy attitudes! So... is your attitude healthy? Check this list:

• Are you selfish? Do you only think of yourself, or put yourself and your needs first? Are you willing to help others? Do you show concern for the well-being and welfare of your co-workers and friends? Don't confuse "taking extraordinary self-care" with selfishness! The two are quite different.
  
• Are you always "right"? It's okay to be wrong! We can't always be right. Learn to be wrong graciously. Don't be a "I told you so" person. Express your opinions in a way that allows for others to express differing opinions and feel safe doing so. Just say, "Oh, I didn't know that, thanks for telling me."
  
• Are you rude and aggressive? Can you control your temper? Do you snap at people? If angry, do you use hostile or rude language and mannerisms? How do you make complaints? Do you make implied threats? Do you cast aspersions, or openly question the honesty and integrity of others? You attract more flies with honey, you know!
  
• Do you take responsibility? Some people cannot accept the blame for anything and will look for anyone or anything to pin the blame on if something goes wrong. Sure, often there are outside circumstances that contribute to our mistakes, and it's okay to explain that - but the mistake is still yours. Admit it and do what you can to fix it.
  
• Are you mistrustful and nosey? Until you are 100% sure of your facts, give people the benefit of the doubt. Trust until it has been proven that your trust is misplaced. Be careful, by all means, but don't treat everybody as though they are up to no good! Casting doubts on other people's intentions and methods is not the way to win friends and influence people! Only speak up if you have a record of events to support your doubt. Gut feelings, whilst often right, are impossible to prove without hard evidence!
  
• Do you build others up or knock 'em down? Some people belittle others in the mistaken belief it makes them look better! If you want to be "better", do it by improving yourself, not by putting the other person down and making them appear in a poor light by comparison.

At every opportunity, practice healthier habits and attitudes. At first it will be difficult, because these traits may have become ingrained over a number of years, but with determined practice, you CAN overcome negative attitudes and replace them with positive attitudes. The good news is, the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com