Attitude within the Workplace

Chapter 1

Am I’m The Problem – It’s Business Not Personal

This chapter is based off life experiences. In order for the healing process to begin the first step is the hardest step which is admitting that I’m the problem. The questions and answers are meant to make you think, analyze, and come up with solutions to help improve your attitude, so you’re no longer the problem. This is the starting point and the beginning to bringing an end to your attitude.

Ask yourself am I the problem?

1. Do I always seem to encounter the same problems with my co-workers when I transfer into another position or start a new job?

If the answer is yes, then there’s a pretty good chance that you’re the problem. I remember when I started my first full time job; I had an issue with several of my co-workers. I found myself complaining to my cousin on numerous occasions. My cousin said to me one day that maybe I was the problem as oppose to my co-workers, being how it was more than just one person I seemed to be having the same issues with. I became defensive and didn’t get what she was trying to say to me, which was to check my own attitude first and then maybe my problems with my co-workers would go away. If more than one person says the same thing about you, then it must be true.

2. Do I distant myself from my co-workers?

By not communicating with your co-workers you could be hindering your own career. How can anyone expect for you to be a leader when you don’t communicate effectively with your co- workers. You may not see anything wrong with keeping to yourself, but others will see you as someone who has an attitude problem, unapproachable or not a team player. This will steer people away from wanting to work with you or even under you for that matter. Keep in mind that leadership reflects attitude.

This was one of my biggest challenges to overcome. I didn’t see anything wrong with keeping to myself, but someone once told me that it sends a negative vibe which could cause me to be overlooked for leadership positions, even if my work was one of quality. In the blink of an eye, my years and career growth were passing me by. I would get upset and frustrated when I was overlooked for leadership positions. So I started to reflect back to what someone had once told me about the setbacks I would encounter by not communicating with my co-workers. Slowly but surely I started to come out of my shell and began communicating with my co-workers, which was the beginning to helping me work my way up into leadership positions.

3. What does my body language say about my attitude?

Believe it or not your body language defines your character and attitude. Body language is a nonverbal message that speaks for itself. People can tell what kind of mood you’re in and if you feel like being bothered without you having to say one single word. Some people have this misconception that the stylish clothes they ware makes them who they are, they are stunningly mistaken. The clothes you ware are materialistic, it’s your body starting from your head down to your toes that dresses you up and says a lot about who you are. Your body language, not your clothes, will be the deciding factor as to whether or not people are going to like you.

Depending on what type of body language your displaying you could be insulting someone of another culture. Corporations not only employ but conduct business in different countries. I supported a COO of a corporation that was getting ready to travel abroad for a business meeting. They requested that I get a body language book for them on culture differences in regards to that country; they needed to know what not to do so they wouldn’t come across as being offensive, disrespectful or rude.

You should always be aware of how you carry yourself within a professional and personal environment. If someone brings to your attention, as I have been told by others on several different occasions, that you’re displaying a body language that’s coming across as a negative you need to listen to what their saying and correct your behavior. Google body language and get the meaning for each of the body actions. Crossing my arms in meetings and social gatherings is one of my biggest challenges, which I now keep in the back of mind. When I attend these gatherings I’m constantly saying to myself, do not cross or uncross my arms. Your body language unbeknownst to you could be offending those around you. Because we are creatures of habit the things that we have done from childhood has followed us into adulthood, making us unaware that our body language is sending out a negative vibration when that’s not our intentions.