Positive mental attitude

Think positively!

Some leaders start as they mean to go on. I once worked for a man, newly installed as a new MD of a business, a good business. He sent out a missive to all staff that demanded positive mental attitude (PMA) and declared that there was no room for “Nego’s” in his business. (He also banned having your top (collar) button undone and tie loose – which indicates how long ago it was!). It’s something that I never forgot – because I agreed with it – and I liked it (even the top button being done up!– still annoys me today).

A former colleague once renamed his team – focussed solely on execution – the “can do” team, because it had become easy to give reasons why something can’t be done (cost, short lead times, not following process, customer late orders etc etc),  always at the expense of our reputation for giving great service. He even installed a protocol that dictated that “it takes two to say no” – meaning that a negative (can’t do) response needed to be supported by two people. Thus making such decisions rarer and more grounded. It changed the culture towards a can-do mentality.

The above examples are both similar in that they strongly a positive mindset. One is marginally less subtle than the other. Both are real-life examples of the concept in action. I would completely advocate a positive mindset - whether expressly or implicitly embedded.

On social media, the comment by Henry Ford is an oft-quoted truism....

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't …. you're right.”

It speaks to mental attitude, to positivity, to the fact that a positive mindset is half the battle to achieving your goal... or just getting through adversity. Attitude shapes reality. Just like professional athletes achieve remarkable feats through focus, vision, and visualization, in business or in life individuals can harness the same power. A positive outlook enables you to see opportunities where others might see obstacles. Even during tough moments, a positive outlook is an essential.

Apart from the most driven, single minded amongst us, we are almost all inherently questioning of our own ability. We all often inflate the risks and succumb to thinking of the worst that can happen. That doubt can often be obvious to others and it's catching. If you lead a team and you don’t believe that a goal can be achieved then the team will pick up on and adopt your scepticism immediately. Likewise a strong sense of positivity and achievability radiated by a leader reaches far down the organisation.

Most of life's greatest achievements have been made by someone who started out not being  sure that they could do it. Despite what they might tell you most leaders, or people that achieve good things were not necessarily born with a positive mindset – they learned over time that this simply helps to achieve your goals. It can be an acquired mindset. It can be trained. It can be habitual. If you are a leader it is essential. As an individual, it can be a life-defining tool.

A positive mindset reflects emotional intelligence. Leaders who radiate positivity motivate their teams, create happy work environments, and build strong bonds. Positivity isn’t just a personal trait; it’s a leadership asset. Be proactive, persuasive, and bold. Embrace change and adapt with grace. The mood of a leader (at whatever level) is transmitted within the team(s). That's why whenever someone asked me how I was (usually first thing in a morning - and early mornings were not my strong point) I would invariably automatically answer "fantastic" .... irrespective of how I felt. It set the tone. Positivity is infectious.

We are all wired to tend towards the optimistic or pessimistic ends of the spectrum. There's nothing wrong with this. Pragmatically, an element of challenge or scepticism is always required to ensure that we balance the risks and impacts of our plans and actions. I am not suggesting that throwing caution to the wind and relying on wildly infectious enthusiasm alone is a good thing. However, a positive mental attitude simply gives better results.

A few years ago a surgeon told me that the chances of a fast recovery were mainly down to a positive mindset from the patient. Expect problems and that will be the outcome with a drug-reliant recovery; slow and painful. Adopt positivity, shrug off the after-effects and get back to normality asap - and problems evaporate. I have seen this a few times to believe that it's true. Positive mindset can hugely influence outcomes. It's the same in business..... and in life.

All the best things stem from a good attitude. You create your reality, and energy follows attention. Pay attention to the positive aspects of your career and the life you lead. Keep your focus on growth, collaboration, and the joy of creating something meaningful. It's not just about you. It's about helping others. We all need someone in our lives – spouse, sibling, colleague or manager who constantly reminds us that we can achieve – we need folk who tell us “ you got this”.

Positive mental attitude isn’t a cliché; it can be the driving force behind success in your career and in life.

Consciously cultivate it. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Make it your super power.