Your Attitude Matters

As I was growing up through the ranks of leadership, one of my mentors taught me an important lesson.

“Recruit for attitude and train for skills”

This is a powerful mantra that applies to anyone looking to make a mark in any work setting. Your Attitude is that X factor that can add sheen to all your strengths and competencies.

Attitude is a mindset. It can be described as our settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, and it controls how we behave. It is our attitude that makes us react positively or negatively to a person or circumstance.

Abraham Lincoln once said “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” – Do we have a positive or a negative outlook about factors in our life ?

Nelson Mandela said this, “I never lose…I either win or I learn.” – What is your mindset towards losing? Do you see it as an opportunity to learn and grow or do you see it as a failure?

Leo Tolstoy said something powerful, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves.”. What is your attitude? Where is your focus, in developing yourself or in changing the world?

There is a nice equation to describe the importance of Attitude in our life

(A)ttitude X (B)ehaviors = (C)onsequences

Our Attitude is that rudder that has the power to point us in the right direction or the wrong direction. A good attitude combined with good knowledge and skills takes you to the destination that you are seeking in your life. On the other hand, you can have the best skills and capabilities but if you come with a poor attitude, you will drift away from your destination.

Work on having a good attitude. It matters.