Attitude

Where to start with attitude? We all have it. The word these days seems to come with a negative connotation as in "wow! does he ever have attitude." Never the less, attitude is the single most important personal factor everyone of us brings to each day.

Most organizations or businesses deliver services of some sort and sell product. Seems simple, but what makes yours different from the one across the street that does the same thing?

Take a look at the various businesses in your local area. Most streets have Pizza joints on them, fast food outlets or a Coffee "Barista" outlet on them. What makes you choose one from the other? Most "Starbucks" or the latest coffee want-a-be all sell pretty good coffee. If the pizza isn't at least tolerable, the joint won't be in business long, and fast food is pretty much all bad for us....so why do we pick the ones we go to?

When you really take a close look, given all the other factors are similar (good product, reasonable price and convenient), the most important differentiating factor is the attitude of the team members serving you.

If you're like me, the reason I go to my local Saprino's Pizzeria is because of the people behind the counter. They smile, they're happy to serve me, and they KNOW me. They do this consistently every time I go there. It's sort of like "MacDucks".... the 300 millionth burgers is just exactly like the 1st. We know quality consistency is important, but attitude consistency is CRUCIAL.

Many organizations and businesses make a fatal mistake in their hiring practices. The chose people based on their scholastic qualifications or their IQ test. When is the last time you saw a result for a future team member on their attitude IQ? Attitude is the single most import attribute for hiring team members. Now I'm not advocating hiring the least qualified person in other areas, just because them seem happy. What I am saying is that all organization and businesses should spend a great deal more energy in quantifying the attitude potential of new team members.

Life doesn't treat us fairly every day. Sometimes we argue with our partners, or the kids just don't get it...we might not feel our best physically and then we arrive at the job!.....The boss is demanding, corporate policy is dumb and getting dumber, and no one will fix the equipment, yet as team members we have to rise above it all and deliver outstanding service to our customers, because the face in front of the product or service is THE differentiating factor.

Despite all the challenges we face as individuals... the boss, the dog, the kids, etc.... ALL of us can CHOOSE our attitude. In fact it's the one thing that's totally in our own control. Think about it. I know I can't control my dog. She thinks she controls me, but I do control my attitude toward her because I choose to. Pick team members who chose their attitude consistently.

We see them all the time...the volunteer lady at the hospital who always has a smile. The happy kid at the drive through who knows your name. What if your organization or business was full of people like that?

Here's my final comment for today on attitude. You can train people on choosing attitude, but it's way better to hire them knowing that choosing attitude is already part of their people IQ. Have a Great Day!