Attitude Over Skill

This week I was invited to give a talk to a group of people that are finishing a workshop and are getting ready to apply for a job.
 
While giving the talk I asked one of the gentleman “why should I hire you?” He talked rapidly but did not give a clear answer.
 
I asked a second person, a lady from Ethiopia, “why should I hire you?” Confidently she turned around and said: “I have a great attitude and you would be proud of hiring me!”
 
“Wow,” I said, “this is exactly what we are looking for in a person to hire… attitude, a winning attitude!”
 
With time, as an employer, as a person that is constantly hiring, I had learned that attitude is more important than skill; an employee with a winning attitude is typically an employee who adapts well to change, is coachable, and will change with your business.
 
According to a study by Leadership IQ, 46% of newly-hired employees will fail within 18 months, while only 19% will succeed. Contrary to popular belief, technical skills are not the primary reason why new hires fail; instead, poor interpersonal skills dominate the list.
 
The study found that 26% of new hires fail because they can’t accept feedback, 23% because they’re unable to understand and manage emotions, 17% because they lack the necessary motivation to excel, 15% because they have the wrong temperament for the job, and only 11% because they lack the necessary technical skills.
 
In life, your attitude is the trigger for a series of events…
 
A positive attitude leads to affirmative thoughts, constructive events and successful outcomes; it generates happiness and satisfaction.
 
A negative attitude generates pessimistic thoughts, destructive events and failed outcomes; it provokes anger and disappointment.
 
Which side of the spectrum are you on?
 
Here are some tips to help us maintain a positive attitude no matter what’s going on in our life.

• You determine your reality. Your real challenges are inside your mind and only YOU decide how to act; it is your own reality!
• Start your day strong. Do not drag yourself out of bed; instead jump out excited, it is a brand new day. This will create a positive frame for the entire day.
• Exercise is the natural feel good drug. When you exercise positive chemicals are released into the blood stream. These chemicals help to maintain a bright outlook.
• Overload your brain with positivity. Surround yourself with people who are going to lift you, motivate you and not put you down. Also, you can tap into plenty of authors and motivational work; learn how they think, how they manage their lives and apply their knowledge.
• Your language shapes your thoughts. Little changes in your language can change the way you think and how you act.  Please, thank you, great, amazing, are some words that you can begin with.

 
Keep in mind: Recruiters know that skilled or experienced employees with poor attitudes fail quickly; on the other hand, unskilled or inexperienced employees with great attitudes succeed in the long run.
 
People feel your attitude, so keep it right! - Mauricio Fraga-Rosenfeld

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