Sunday, March 18, 2012

You CAN be the difference

I was recently put into a group situation for a class project. It wasn’t long before I became painfully aware – again – of how difficult it can be to work within a group.

Wanting to do well and wanting to get a good grade should be everyone’s objective. However, it can sometimes seem quite the contrary. If you've ever worked on a group project, you probably already know what I'm talking about. It can be difficult to maintain a positive attitude when you're ideas or opinions are met with opposition in a group or on a team.

I have always enjoyed a good one-on-one debate or heated discussion with someone who has a different opinion than me. It can be very educational and enlightening. However, differing opinions, experiences and age discrepancies within a group situation can lead to a group’s demise if you don’t go into the setting with the right attitude.

What is the right attitude? A winning attitude…and I don’t mean Charlie Sheen’s “winning” attitude. I mean, don’t go into a group situation as a "debbie-downer." Pessimism is not the key to success, optimism is.

Hank Stringer, a member of the Glassdoor.com, posted “Four Steps to a Better ‘Winning’ Attitude at Work,” which I summarize here:
  • Willingness to engage - Showing your willingness to take on assignments at work, even if they are the work no one else wants will display a winning attitude to others.
  • Good listener - Make sure you’ve quietly listened to someone’s point before commenting. In a group setting, take in all the ideas before presenting yours.
  • Healthy self-awareness - You are as you are perceived. Speaking of perception this can be tough. A winner has the confidence for objective personal observation because they understand that this is a learning and growth process.
  • Celebrate growth not just wins - Pat yourself on the back when you learn and grow not just when you win. Sure failure can be a killer at work but there is a lesson to be learned so take advantage and learn from all mistakes.
If you’re not sure how you can change your attitude about a team you’re on or group you have to work with, try some of these phrases from a paper my father gave me a long time ago (author unknown). I used to have it hanging in my cubicle to remind me, and those I worked with, how to maintain a positive attitude in the workplace.Winning Attitudes List of Can and Can't Do's
Geoffrey James, contributor for Sales Machine at CBS.com wrote “Attitude is not the result of what happens in the world, but how one decides to interpret what happens in the world.”
It’s up to you to choose to interpret situations in a positive and optimistic manner. You can be the difference in your group by approaching the goal and the group with a winning attitude.

Check out these links and video for more information:
Video: Bring your glow or gloom

"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so few engage in it." -Henry Ford

A word to the wise is sufficient.

1 comment:

  1. This is a tough one. I hated group work as a student. I still tend to take over and do everything on committees.

    Dr C

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