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Attitude in the Workplace
Author and dynamic life coach who the Wall Street Journal calls "A Star with Attitude," Keith specializes in changing behaviors through a positive attitude.

Recent Articles by Keith Harrell

Relationships / Professional

Attitude in the Workplace

When was the last time your attitude, good or bad, made a difference?

Ever since I became a professional speaker and trainer, much of my work has been with corporations. Managers have invited me to speak to their sales forces, their office staffs or their management groups. But over the last several years there has been a change in the tone of the invitations.

In my first year, the invitations were something like this: “Keith, we’re going for a record year and I really want to keep my people pumped up. I’d like for you to help us raise our attitudes another notch.”

The times have really changed. Today, the invitations are more like, “Keith, we’ve got a lot of challenges merging different cultures. Our people are more worried about their futures than their work. Frankly, I have to do something. Keith, I know you can help us, and we’re ready to get started. What can you do to help?”

The workplace has changed dramatically. Companies are either “downsizing,” “rightsizing,” “merging” or “being acquired.” Thousands of people who thought their lives were secure through retirement are now suddenly vulnerable. Some will become unemployed, and those who remain will wonder when their turns will come.

These are the kind of circumstances that can defeat you… if you let circumstance dictate your life. That’s what happens to a lot of people. For others, the circumstance becomes an opportunity for getting where they want to go.

One of the challenges facing management and co-workers today is dealing with difficult people—those who have negative attitudes. It is important to note that a person with a negative attitude has the same power to influence others as a person with a positive attitude. The difference appears in the results.

Positive attitudes in the workplace have many benefits, including:

  • Improved communications
  • Better teamwork
  • Increased morale
  • Higher productivity

The opposite is true for negative attitudes. They dismantle teamwork, increase stress and cripple productivity. In the workplace, the big difference between the winners and the losers is often attitude. The salesperson who sells more, the manager who inspires her people, the manufacturing supervisor who sets the tone for everybody around them, are all good examples of what attitude does for you and everybody around you.

Post a comment to this article


Graduate Student

Kathy Lard
October 11, 2012
I enjoyed reading this article, although I read it because for research purposes. I have been saying this for years....Attitude is everything it will make you or break you..... Work experiences have been interesting because management will passionately protect negative attitudes if they have the same attitude...someone with a positive attitude is considered a threat in the work place today. Scary!

Luz Celenia GarcĂ­a
May 6, 2013
It very interesting to now thease facts about how your positivo attitude can make you more succesfull in your work place because your work place is your second home and you half build good relation with your boss and co workers even thogh they also half to build a good relation with you and not bullie you because your diferent your because you have diferent and nobody is perfect every body makes mistakes Its just assepting and changing i think if you realy change you deserve a second chance to show the real you the positive one.
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