Being a leader is about living your life in a way that inspires or encourages others. Here is the next in my series of monthly newsletters, each with a section on the skills you need so you can be a leader of your life. To lead is to serve. If you make it your goal to do the best that you can and to help people, then you can't fail. I encourage you to commit to keep learning.

The content below is extracted from Mike Holt's Leadership Skills - Taking Your Career to the Next Level.

Everyone notices a powerful and positive attitude. What you think and believe about yourself shows in the way you walk, stand, and communicate with people. Do everything you can to develop and maintain a positive attitude about your ability to be successful and your ability to accomplish your objectives. People respond well to a positive attitude.

Success itself doesn’t come overnight—it’s a process through which each of us must go. But believing in your success and acting the part can start on day one. By taking the time to study or learn something new every day, success can be achieved. Your public school years were a process. You didn’t go from Kindergarten to Graduation Day in 30 minutes, a week, or even a year. If you understand that success won’t come “overnight” (because you understand it’s a process) then you won’t be disappointed, frustrated, or disillusioned.

Sure, you’ll encounter problems, but everyone does. What distinguishes a leader is how they react. There are problems and challenges to every endeavor, and everyone has to overcome difficulties. Make it a practice to keep your attention on your work and be positive about your job, and you’ll be able to cope with and overcome any problems that arise. Welcome adversity as a learning experience.

We all have “bad” days and “good” days—it happens. But one of the most important things you must learn to do is to develop a positive attitude, especially at those times when it seems the most difficult. Be cheerful and upbeat even on days when you don’t really feel that way. You’re 100 percent in charge of choosing your attitude, and you can choose a positive one. Ability, capability, and availability of resources will go far toward making success possible but without a positive attitude they’re wasted, and success, if any, will be incomplete and unfulfilling.

Don’t spend your time and effort worrying—that feeds negative energy into your life. Worrying feeds the belief that you’ll fail, or that the worst thing will happen to you. Faith and a positive attitude are essential to succeeding. Make a commitment to think positively and give your best effort at all times. Focus on what you have, not on what you lack, and maximize your best assets. Be thankful to God for your opportunities and abilities. Live a life of thankfulness instead of worry.

Surround yourself with friends and family members who support your goals and your mission. Unfortunately, sometimes people in our group have negative attitudes; don’t allow them to influence you or to advise you in any way.

Key elements in developing a great (winning) attitude are belief, desire, and expectancy.

• A winner believes they can win no matter what. They believe they’re worthy and deserve to win. There’s an old saying that’s applicable here—“As you believe, so shall you be.”
• Winners always have a burning desire to win. Their desire to win is what makes them winners. To quote another cliché—“A winner never quits and quitters never win.”
• Finally, winners expect to win no matter what the conditions are. Fear, while natural, is negative expectancy—expecting not to win. Confidence is positive expectancy—knowing you’re going to win.
  

These three elements can’t be tested or measured. They’re all subjective and internal, but they can all work together to help you develop a winning, positive attitude. How you approach each day is your choice.

We'd love to hear from you about this series, and the ways you're using it. Send us your comments and feedback by clicking on Post a Comment below. Look out for the next part in this series a month from now, and please share with your colleagues.

To review or catch up on previous newsletters on business and personal development click here.
The above content is extracted from Mike Holt's Leadership Skills textbook.

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