What are Your Excuses? Could Your Attitude Sabotage Your Success as a Leader?
Attitude Obstacles are always a potential trap. Especially if you’re unaware of their potentially destructive consequences. We all occasionally make subtle excuses to ourselves when challenges occur. What are your excuses?
An Opportunity Gained or Lost?
We’re in the mist of The Great Resignation. Employers are seeking creative new ways to retain and engage their talent. Some employers are handing out larger raises than in the past. Talent shortages are creating opportunities for leaders to step up.
- How might you make the most of this opportunity?
- How might you avoid shooting yourself in the foot?
Sound Familiar?
Have you ever found yourself saying similar phrases when faced with a challenging task?
“That’s above my pay grade.”
“That’s beneath my pay grade.”
“They don’t pay me enough for that.”
“That’s not what we do here.”
“I have no experience with that.”
“That’s not why I was hired”
Make no mistake. These are ...
Whether you share these excuses with others or simply harbor then internally, these are Attitude Obstacles.
What happens with this mindset?
The late, great motivational speaker Zig Ziglar gave us some powerful thoughts about attitude. He called these kinds of excuses:
“Stinkin’ Thinkin'”
And as a remedy he suggested it was time for…
“A Check-Up from the Neck Up.”
To HAVE, you must BECOME
If you want to have more (money, authority, respect, high paying clients, etc.), you must become the person that is worthy in they eyes of those who will grant it.
When you embrace self-limiting excuses, you diminish your personal power. And you deprive yourself of the opportunity to develop your potential as a leader leader.
Check Up Time
The next time you’re tempted to use one of these excuses, ask yourself:
- How does this support the reputation I need to build?
- How will this effect my personal power?
- Why am I really avoiding this challenge?
Closing Thought from Zig
“It is your attitude, more than your aptitude, that will determine your altitude.”
– Zig Ziglar
