[April 23, 2018] There are very few folks who would think otherwise to the sage advice that it’s important to have a good attitude. A problem arises, however, whenever we try to define “good attitude” and why it is so important for leaders to have it.
“Commitment, belief and positive attitude are all important if you’re going to be a success, whether you’re in sports, in business, or, in my case, anthropology.” – Donald Johanson, American paleoanthropologist
We’ve all run across a person who makes us smile, is approachable, and somehow “connects” with us emotionally. That type of person is one who has mastered a personality that evokes joy and meaning in others. Such a person is not rare but their attitude can be beneficially infectious.
A good attitude (also known as a positive attitude) is an optimistic-based emotion that others witness and can gain from. Its outward appearance is one that attracts people to the one with a good attitude and helps others feel better about themselves and what they have accomplished. Thus, while a good attitude is about an individual, the effect is on others. The benefits for a leader are, of course, enormous.
While a good attitude has a positive physical, psychological, and related benefits for the individual, to us here at the www.theleadermaker.com blog the focus is on the impact of an attitude on others. Leaders with a positive attitude are more successful at work and home; they have the ability to influence others easily and are seen as being credible and capable persons to lead.
I’ve written about the importance of a starting with a good attitude before (see links here and here). It bears repeating that those with this attitude are more likely to show moral courage in difficult situations and to use better judgment in dealing with problems.
This effect has the prime benefit of providing help in getting people to do things they would not ordinarily do and to do them because they want to. This, of course, is the classic definition of leadership.
New to your site. Good works.
Donald Johanson, smart guy, discovered “Lucy” the ancient skeleton.
Good comments today on a topic more young folks should pay attention to. Also, my boss should read it. Maybe I’ll slip a copy under his door.
Another good post. Next I recommend you write about what is a good attitude.
I think many people don’t even know what makes up a “good attitude.” No surprises here as most people fail to grasp the very basis of leadership.
Yes and that is the problem with communicating as a good leader. There must be clarity in what you write and say.
Good article today on a topic that is near to my heart. Too many times I had a boss who lacked a true good attitude. In my younger years I just thought that is what a boss was like. Then I began to work at Whole Foods and found the management to be caring and helpful (with good attitudes about the business and the store). What a difference it made in me.
😉 Life can be a good journey but only with a positive attitude.
My friends never seemed to figure this out. A bad attitude is also a way of showing disrespect to others.
Like so many people, I knew a young woman who just could not connect with the people she was working for or the customers in the store where she worked. She was nice and polite. She didn’t have a bad attitude but not a good one either. She came across as superior to everyone. She eventually left to do a job that didn’t require much interaction with people.
Great topic. More attention should be paid to this. As noted by others smarter than me, it is not how intelligent or wise you are, if you are a nasty, narcissistic, selfish brute, you will not get the job done. My point is that it doesn’t take someone intelligent to know this. It’s part of “connecting” to people.
It is so surprising to me that many people can’t figure this out.
It is not unusual to have a leader with a very bad attitude (some days better perhaps but unpredictable). It is much rarer to have a leader with a very good attitude. The latter is who actually gets things done.
Thank you for an article on a subject that I love to talk about with my students.
Good and thank you Mr. Asper for this.
Share with them and tell them to practice it every day, every hour, every minute. Only then will they adopt such a good attitude.
For the individual, there are many benefits. Your message that for leaders, others gain by your good attitude is an excellent point. Thanks.
Good points about a good attitude. My father was the family’s guiding light and his philosophy was to have a “positive attitude at all times.” It worked.
Another spot on article. If you have a good attitude, people will help you if you need it, often without even asking. But with a bad attitude, people will not go out of their way to help no matter what.
This can never be overstated. Growing up I had a football coach with a bad attitude. I cannot overstate how good he was with the fundamentals of football but everyone on the team hated him and would never play their best. We had an okay season because we played for the school. I believe, to this day, that if he had had a good attitude we would have won the championship that year. We had the talent but lacked the motivation (which he took away with his attitude).
This is a classic. Leaders without a good attitude drive their people away. This is why, for example, people leave organizations (work, church, social club); it is not the pay or anything like that which drives them.
These types of stories are common. Attitude matters!
I think most of us have a similar story growing up. Hopefully we learned a positive lesson from it.
How so very true.
Thanks for your story.
So very true. How I have worked to educate young people that there is little you can do unless you have a good attitude. Thank you Brig Gen Satterfield for bringing out this subject to remind us of its importance.
You can be the smartest person and most beautiful, but if you are an a**hole, then you will not be able to lead men and women for any length of time.
If you have to start somewhere, this is where you begin your journey to leadership.
As usual, you are right on.
Yes, you are right again Army Captain.
Only those who have known leadership in truth will know the journey.