Attitude

Another aspect to image is attitude. What does your attitude say about you? Are you a pessimist or an optimist? If you’re not sure ask your significant other, friends, and co-workers what they think you are. It will tell you a lot about the image you project.

Are you a Negative Nancy? Negative Nancys complain the ray of sunshine coming through the clouds after 5 days of cloudy skies is hurting their eyes. They can turn any positive into a negative. In the workplace they stir up dissent by spreading gossip, finding fault with management, your colleagues or your staff for the tiniest of infractions. No matter how smartly dressed they are, their image reflects unhappiness and discontent.

Perhaps you are even keel Kyle. Nothing bothers you or at least it doesn’t appear to. You get through each day dutifully fulfilling your obligations, not ruffling any feathers. But you do not give anything of authentic value to your co-workers, staff or superiors. Your goal in life is to see the clock strike 5PM so you can shut down your computer, hop into your car and go home. What kind of image does an even keel Kyle project? It’s certainly not the negative, pessimistic attitude of a Negative Nancy but it’s not one of optimism either.

Positive Pete is the guy everyone wants to have around. He makes people feel good and finds the lighter side in nearly every situation. When beset with professional disappointment, Pete still looks for the silver lining amidst the troubling circumstances and looks out for others. Pete doesn’t sugar coat but he does look to balance the natural propensity of others towards negativity by turning lemons into lemonade. Pete’s image is one of consummate professionalism and good nature based upon his attitude toward work and others.

While this is a simplistic generalization of attitude types, it is important to remember that your attitude plays into the image you project. Which one are you? What is one positive step you can take to change your negative or even keeled attitude?