“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home.” These lines by the famous Christian pastor, author, and educator Charles Rozell Swindoll sum up the importance of attitude in every area of our lives.
At the workplace, a leader’s attitude impacts everything, from the team’s performance to productivity and dynamics. For leaders, attitude is even more important as their actions guide others and set the tone of the workplace. A positive attitude inspires positive change, while a negative attitude causes disharmony and chaos.
Let’s explore, how attitude reflects leadership in the workplace in greater detail.
What is the Relationship Between Attitude and Leadership?
The relationship between attitude and leadership can be summarized in three words: Leadership is an attitude. Attitude is a term given to a mental set that influences a person’s perspective. It is a medium through which we communicate how we feel to others. Attitude is reflected in how we conduct ourselves. Leadership is the capacity of an individual to influence a group of people toward achieving certain goals.
Reading the definition of attitude and leadership, one can clearly see the direct relationship between them. Leaders with good attitudes lift the spirit of their team. On the other hand, a poor attitude of a leader will reflect in two ways. Their team will mirror or take on the poor attitude themselves and join in their downward spiral. Besides, they may also look down upon their leader.
Leaders with an optimistic attitude cultivate authenticity in their roles and foster better relationships. This, in turn, positively influences the work environment. Great leaders have a humble attitude, and they aren’t afraid to acknowledge their mistakes. In fact, doing so helps them promote more openness among their team members, encouraging them to share their ideas and views.
True leaders identify errors made by their team members. However, they still retain an empathetic attitude toward them. This enables them to increase the confidence of their group and ultimately lead a high-performing team. Effective leadership is also marked by the ability of the leaders to manage their emotions well. They possess emotional intelligence, which helps them connect better with their team. It promotes a stimulating environment of trust and support.
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What is an Example of a Leader with a Positive Attitude?
Steve Jobs is an apt example of a leader with a positive attitude. He transformed not one but multiple industries. From music to personal computing, there was hardly any space where he did not leave a lasting impact. Many do not know that Jobs was always surrounded by a group of exceptionally intelligent individuals. These people could have easily cracked interviews and exams in other companies, which would have given them far more monetary benefits. However, they still remained with Apple. The reason was none other than the presence of Steve Jobs and his charismatic attitude.
We all have certain weaknesses. There’s nothing wrong with that. Steve Jobs, too, had his own flaws. However, he was still able to give us several lessons in leadership. Jobs was logical and confident. He was open to criticism of the worst kind.
He had a never-quit attitude. According to people who worked with him, Jobs was never satisfied. He kept trying for something better, no matter how foolish it may seem to others. This attitude positively influenced his team members to think innovatively.
Jobs was passionate about his work. His strong belief in his ability to turn his idea into a reality was incredibly inspiring to those who worked for him. However, the biggest thing about his leadership style was that he led by example. He first set high expectations for himself and not his employees. Most of his team members automatically put their best foot forward because they were motivated by his attitude of going all out to achieve his goals.
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Importance of Positive Attitude for a Leader
A positive attitude is crucial to leading successfully. Many people confuse this type of attitude with always being cheery no matter what. This is a wrong understanding. A positive attitude is reflected in daily actions. It has nothing to do with forcing oneself to be happy in challenging times. The significance of a positive attitude for a leader is explained below.
Helps You Attract Hard-Working People
Teams with leaders who have a positive attitude are more productive. This is because a leader with such an attitude creates a confident and supportive team culture. When a leader demonstrates a positive attitude, it encourages the team to be more collaborative and creative, as that is the energy that the leader injects into the workplace. Thus, a positive attitude helps you attract high-performing individuals.
Build a Network of Advocates
A leader isn’t successful alone. Their achievement depends upon their relationships with others. Those with positive attitudes attract others to their vision. People want to be on their team. Thus, a positive attitude helps leaders build a network of individuals who are committed to achieving the leader’s vision.
Helps You Bounce Back from Failures
The path to success is laden with challenges and failures. A positive attitude is crucial to instilling resilience in both the leader and their team members. A negative attitude kills the morale of employees in the face of adversity. On the other hand, the positive attitude of the leader in such trying times imbues the team with a sense of motivation and determination to overcome the challenges.
Facilitates Better Decision-Making
Leaders with a positive attitude don’t demoralize themselves or their teams when faced with a challenge. Instead, they look at the situation from all angles. This helps them brainstorm effective ways to deal with it. Teams under leaders with positive attitudes calmly weigh the pros and cons of each option before them. Thus, they are better positioned to make informed decisions.
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Summing Up
Hopefully, this post has made you aware of how attitude reflects leadership in the workplace. Leaders with positive attitudes choose to see the best in people and situations. They are optimistic and resilient. But the most important thing is that they lead not by forcing others to do as they please, but by setting themselves as an example. This helps them build teams consisting of passionate individuals who are motivated to achieve their objectives.
