Avoiding career mistakes - improve your negative attitude

You have met them; you have been annoyed by them; you may have suffered because of them.  They are the folks that always find problems; they tell you why it won't work; they always have an excuse for something that hasn't even happened yet and might never happen at all.  These folks just bring down the energy of the room when they walk in the door. 

• They complain about the free food and drinks the company or coworkers provides - "oh man, I had a bagel for breakfast already,"  "I only like Diet Coke, can we get free Diet Coke instead of Diet Pepsi?"
• They shoot down every new idea - "I tried that on my last project and it didn't work."
• They find fault with everything - "ya know this 80 page deliverable document is great, but I like Tahoma 12 point and you used Arial 11."
• They leave every sales meeting on a downer - "No way they are buying."
• They pick, criticize and try to change everything everybody else does.
• They point out every potential hurdle or hazard however unlikely.

I think you get the point - so the question I have for all of my dear readers is --

Are YOU that guy or that girl?

If you think you might be, even sometimes, here are some tips to follow so you don't bring down the whole room with your negativity.

1. If someone gives you something for free - say thanks - even if you dont want it or would have preferred something else.
2. Remember - if you think you are the smartest person in the room,  you are probably wrong.  This means that you should listen to you peers and coworkers.  And I have news for you - even if you are the smartest person in the room, nobody else needs to be told so.
3. Learn that nothing will be perfect - sometimes the goal is "round enough to roll." I promise you that the client or bosses won't really care what font you use in your report as long as the content is there.
4. Try holding your tongue and listening to others - after all we have two ears and only one mouth.
5. Think and act positively.
6. Just because "IT" didn't work before doesn't mean "IT" won't work now - sometimes the time was wrong or the circumstances just didn't line up.
7. Smile and be supportive.

It rarely, if ever pays off in the long term to be Mr. or Ms. negative.

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Comments and feedback are requested and desired; and you are welcome and encouraged to submit questions to thecareerdoctor.

Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of CareersDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.

Debra can be reached at -
DWheatman@ResumesDoneWrite.com
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