It’s essential to have the right skills for each position – a key part of The Fish Philosophy. Interestingly enough a positive attitude may in fact be more crucial than qualifications. Peoples’ attitudes are becoming more important than ever before and in today’s competitive job market this trend isn’t going anywhere. Due to the ever-changing climate, most top employers are selecting optimistic, collaborative, and flexible people rather than someone that is challenging to work with and resistant to change.
What are the sources of those attitudes that are necessary for success? Are they natural to you, or can you develop them, like any other talent?
The FISH! Philosophy encourages us to value authenticity and vulnerability above all else. Every scenario is unique, but it’s critical to exercise discretion while choosing your attitude. You don’t have control over what happens to you, but you do have a choice in how you respond.
Making a deliberate decision isn’t simple, especially when a scenario takes control of your emotions and prompts you to react the same way you have hundreds of times before. It takes practice to take control of your response rather than allowing it to dictate your actions.
Here are four strategies for taking control and choosing a positive attitude:
Find your Inner Voice.
Our feelings are triggered by external events only if they have previously gone through an internal filter called your inner voice. Your inner voice begins speaking to you as soon as you wake up, offering judgments on everything you see, hear, touch, smell, and feel.
Your inner voice is rarely a dispassionate witness. It assesses each moment based on your prior likes and dislikes. It looks for proof that you are correct and the other person is incorrect. It magnifies how terrible things are or interprets how they might go wrong. It puts other people down, both intentionally and unintentionally. It insults your abilities and capabilities frequently, doubting your talents and skills.
You must question your inner voice if you want to change how you feel rather than just reacting. Catch it on the fly, then take a step back. Instead of just accepting what it’s suggesting, consider it as a detached bystander.
As soon as you realize it is a voice and is saying anything at all, you can choose how much to trust it—and how best to react.
Start Setting Goals.
You’ll need a strategy if you want to mindfully respond to whatever life throws your way. Decide who you want to “be” today. Keep your objective insight. Choose a few descriptive words to describe your attitude goals, such as “patient,” “open,” or “helpful.” Concentrate on developing those qualities inside of yourself.
Moment-to-moment awareness is essential. During the day, consider, “What am I feeling right now? Is it assisting me in being as successful as possible? Is it helping people who rely on me?” Consider ahead: What people or situations are likely to put your attitude to the test today? What could set you off? Rehearse how you’ll reply. Reaffirm your objective and stay focused on the response to help you achieve it.
Consider the long-term impact of your actions. Make a poor mistake or have an unpleasant argument with one of your staff members? Is it worth jeopardizing your friendship over the satisfaction of ripping into them for a moment? Disagreements and difficulties come and go, but friendships are more difficult to replace.
Use a Growth Mindset.
Our views about others and ourselves are influenced by how we see other people.
People with a “fixed” attitude have a rigid and set perception of their capabilities. They understand what they are good at and see what they are not competent in as abilities that they do not possess the ability to improve (“I couldn’t possibly learn that!” or “I wasn’t born with a brain for it!”).
People with a fixed mindset regard activities that force them to step outside their comfort zones as threats. They are afraid of making mistakes that might damage their reputation because they are confident in what they currently do well. Only information and feedback that confirms their ideas engage their attention.
People with a growth mindset believe they can continuously improve their abilities. It doesn’t imply you’ll be able to play in the AFL or become an opera star. It means you should never assume you’ve reached your limits and shouldn’t limit yourself before attempting anything new. It implies recognizing errors as an opportunity to learn and grow.
People with growth mindsets are more engaged and empowered, according to studies. They’re better able to deal with change. They’re more flexible and receptive to new ideas. People work together more effectively in organizations that embrace a growth mentality.
Question your beliefs.
It’s easy to assume the worst about other people’s motives and capabilities, especially if we don’t connect or agree with them. We usually try to avoid people we believe offer little value to us—which isn’t very helpful for team bonding and togetherness.
If you think someone at work has a terrible attitude or lack of motivation, don’t be quick to judge. Make contact with them. Find out why—not with accusations but with caring inquiries—so that you may assist them more effectively. You might discover they’re going through an especially trying time at home or have additional job pressures that you didn’t know about. Knowing this will enable you to deal with them more constructively.
You can also use positive messages to your advantage. You could see a different side of them if you treat them with a bit of kindness and encouragement. Learn about their world. Look for their advice on what they do well and seek it out. People are more likely to react favorably towards you based on how you deal with them. If not, there’s no way you could have made a decision that would make you ashamed of yourself.
