If you’ve ever been non-plussed about the attitude you get from airline flight attendants, servers at restaurants, retail sales people, or any number of other service providers, you aren’t alone. It’s interesting how many of them treat their jobs (and their careers) as an inconvenience or even with disdain, while others approach their work with joy and enthusiasm.
The most common complaint I get from clients is that they can’t find good people. I tell them to look around at shops where they frequent. What do “good people” look like? They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, but one thing they all have is the right attitude and enthusiasm for life and their work. They don’t see their job as a prison sentence, but rather as a place to thrive on their path through life. It’s a function of their own self-worth, which is reflected in their character and respect for themselves and others.
Attitude and enthusiasm are the largest part of determining whether an individual will be successful. You can’t train for energy and positivity, but you can train for skills advancement and specialized knowledge. It’s a lot easier to educate and train when you have people who are enthused about learning, open to change, and willing to work hard to gain favor and a paycheck, in addition to getting ahead in a career.
So the next time you need a good associate, take a look around. You know what to look for.