The Power of Positive Difference

                        

A major challenge for young and brilliant professionals is learning to create their ability to influence.  Way too often talented graduates seek influence by demonstrating their knowledge, proving they are right and demanding credit for their smarts.  After all, they spent many years developing their expertise in the hopes that they will be able to make a significant impact on the organization and will be promptly rewarded for it.  However, most organizations don’t provide the right environment for this type of behavior.

Organizations need top performers as they can be a huge force in solving problems, growing the business and reducing cost of operations.  Unfortunately, these high performers engage such opportunities with the mindset that the reward for such accomplishments should be theirs.  While this may seem like a fair assessment, one must realize that employees are hired to help build the organization and provide reward to the stockholders, not solely for themselves.

After numerous attempts to be seen for their expertise, high performers can become discouraged and even demotivated.  Gaining success in their career becomes more challenging as their attitude becomes evident to those around them.  Despite what you can do, a negative attitude is always seen as a bad personal characteristic.  No one cares how it was developed, whether they were treated unfairly or if their efforts constantly went unrewarded.  A bad attitude is still bad.

In an interview with Marshall Goldsmith, I was reminded of the power of a positive attitude.  Marshall shared his thoughts from a recent experience.

“The greatest leaders I’ve ever met are always up, always positive, always focused on the mission and always focused on service.  I had the privilege of having dinner two weeks ago with Alan Mulally, who just won the CEO of the year in the United States.  Alan went into Ford during some very adverse conditions where he did a spectacular job of leading a turnaround.  Instead of becoming down and depressed, he was always focused on service and how to make a positive difference.  He wasn’t focused on whining or himself, he was always focused on what he could do to help others. “

The power to make a positive difference begins with a positive attitude.  Unfortunately, there are many obstacles to sustaining a healthy positive attitude.  The fastest way to overcome these obstacles is to:

    accept that they exist

    recognize them,

    refuse to respond negatively to them, and

    quickly work around them.

Some of the more common obstacles to your development of a positive attitude and your growth towards making a positive difference are listed below.  Throughout your career, you will encounter many things that will attempt to derail you or slow you down.  It is rare that you will find yourself in a corporate environment that makes personal growth, learning and your career development a priority.  Remember, making money comes first.  Now to that list of obstacles.

    Money comes first – This is what companies want.  If you can help them get more, you’ll be better off.

    Bad managers exist – You’ll find managers who only have their interest at heart and will do just about anything to limit their competition.  You may be smarter, but they’re the boss.

    Companies don’t develop talent – It is unlikely that you’ll find many companies that will hold your hand and guide you to the top.  Besides, most of the people at the top want to stay there.

    Competition will be fierce – With unemployment so high, more people will be seeking greater qualifications and skills.  Then, they’ll be chasing higher level positions too.

    Advanced degrees are entrance tickets – Great knowledge is only a ticket to the game.  It offers no guarantee of anything.  You must use it to accomplish great things for the company and others.

Once you’ve found positive attitude, you can move on to making a positive difference.  High performers have great skill, knowledge and ability.  It is their responsibility to utilize these things to make the world around them a better place.  For example, if I made everyone around me into millionaires, I wouldn’t need to be one.  The positive impact I would have on others would be reciprocated to me in times of need.  Positive difference is creating positive change no matter what the situation or circumstances may be.  It is proactive.  It is deliberate.  It is also difficult and challenging and it will challenge you all throughout your career.  But high performers who’ve found their way aren’t intimidated as they have learned that positive difference will lead them to the achievement of their goals and dreams.

Written by Todd Rhoad

Todd Rhoad, MSEE, MBA is Director at BT Consulting, a career consulting firm in Altanta, and author of “Blitz The Ladder” and the soon to be released “MBA Owner’s Manual.” Todd can be reached at todd.rhoad@blitzteamconsulting.com.