This past Tuesday I was honored to be the co-host of Lolly Daskal‘s (@lollydaskal) popular weekly Twitter chat, “Lead From Within” (#leadfromwithin). The theme was “Leadership and Attitude”, and Lolly’s first question was:
A good attitude allows people to be drawn to you even in the midst of disagreement. Attitudes Are Contagious. Attitudes are contagious and to be a leader of excellence requires maintaining a proper attitude and at the same time not tolerating a negative contagious spirit to spread and do damage. Attitude Is Everything! (The Attitudes of Worship) Posted on. I did not always feel like it. Sometimes I just wanted to stay home and relax. But, I have come to learn that having a proper attitude in life and in worship is so important! I am 73 and have been in a leadership role in church music since I was 16 and directed a cherub choir.
“What are the key attitudes of a leader?”
In case you missed my take on this question on Twitter, here are what I consider to be the 5 most important attitudes that a great leader must have:
- Positivity – “Looking at the literal world in a favorable way“. This is the essence of what I call being a “Half-Full” leader.
- Purpose – There must be a place you want to lead someone, or a group, (or yourself) TO
- Empathy & Compassion – I have to be able to walk a mile in the other person’s shoes, and apply the “Golden Rule“
- Humility – You want to make them BETTER than you. You shine the light on them.
- Love – You have to love leading, and not be afraid to talk about it, or express it.
We also chatted about how attitude can be “taught” – by rolling up the sleeves and leading by example. Talking the talk, AND walking the walk.
Showing the right attitudes can also build trust – for me, it’s by showing an “openness” and an ability to listen without prejudgment.
Lastly, I shared one of my favorite quotes, to reinforce my point about love:
“He treats them as his own beloved sons and they will stand by him until death” – Sun Tzu
Think about the attitudes you bring to the table as a leader, because they are vitally important to building a team that can get to greatness.
Thanks again Lolly, and to all those who so kindly participated in the chat, and lead well, everyone!
- Jan CoatesAuthor
- 20112 Jul
- COMMENTS
Your attitude is one of your most valuable assets! Stanford Research Institute reports that only 12.5 percent of our success in life is determined by knowledge; the other 87.5 percent comes from attitude. More than skill, knowledge, or aptitude, our attitude dictates our success in life.
Did you know that? Perhaps you’ve never thought of it that way before. Chuck Swindoll, bestselling author, writes, “I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. The attitude I choose keeps me going or cripples my progress. When my attitudes are right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme.”[1]
Most of us believe we possess a positive attitude. But what would happen if we asked our best friend or spouse for a no-holds-barred honest assessment of our attitude? Chances are high their comments might include:
*Not too bad after three cups of coffee
*Little things get blown out of proportion
*Irritable and moody
*Overly sensitive
*Whiny
*Frets and worries over everything
*Unforgiving toward certain people
In the midst of foreclosure notices and layoffs and personal and professional pressures, it is hard to maintain a positive attitude 100 percent of the time. Why? Because we’ve become reliant on outside influences, such as friends, family, teachers, bosses, and media to color our perspective. We wrongly believe attitude is something we’re given or born with, rather than a choice we make.
That was the mistake I made in my early life. Due to many factors, including abuse, my childhood lacked a positive, healthy environment. Bitterness, anger, and envy hovered over me like an unwanted black cloud. I made major wrong decisions and bad choices and lived with the consequences. In other words, my past circumstances contaminated my attitude.
Then I discovered that a positive attitude is not something that goes on around you, but rather, it resides within you. A healthy, positive attitude comes from within your heart, mind, body, and spirit. It can’t be bought. It can’t be manufactured. You can’t inject it, transfer it, or swallow it because you already possess it. It begins with a decision—one that you make.
The Bible clearly says, “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart” (Matthew 15:18, NIV). The English word “heart” referred to in this scripture translates to the Greek word kardia—the fountain seat of thoughts, passions, desires, purposes, and endeavors. These components interrelate and produce:
*Positive or negative words.
*Positive or negative actions.
A from-the-heart positive attitude requires a lifelong commitment to change the way we view everyday experiences as well as the challenges we encounter. It can only happen with a sincere desire to experience a new, positive you. I know that was the only way I ever made it out of any of the deep, dark pits I was in—and it’s the only way I stay out of them today.
God filled me with a desire and the power to transform my attitude from negative to positive. I’ve discovered the honest-to-goodness, power-filled benefits of a positive attitude, including:
*More energy
*Less stress
*Ability to rebound from defeat
*Better physical and mental health
*Improved coping skills
*Flexibility in day-to-day living
*Enhanced relationships
When you’re willing to honestly look into your heart and do something about what you discover, then with the help of Jesus Christ, you can begin to experience godly, positive change from the inside out.
A sought after speaker and popular author, Jan Coates’ contagious, godly positivity is felt in every word she shares. Her mission is to help others discover how to personally experience a new life—one that overflows with God’s joy, grace, and positivity. She is the author of Attitude-inize: 10 Secrets to a Positive You (link to CBD.com). For more information visit www.jancoates.com or email her at [email protected].