Choose Your Attitude

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” This famous quote is especially true for high-performing leaders. Your attitude can be the deciding factor between struggle and success, so learning to master it is non-negotiable.

In a world of constant change and pressure, the right attitude gives you a competitive edge. This isn’t feel-good fluff; it’s backed by research and real-world results.

Here are five crucial attitude shifts to help you "conquer your mind:"

Shift 1. Embrace a growth mindset - a "never-stop-learning" attitude

Shift 2. Choose your attitude in adversity

Shift 3. Take ownership - 100% responsibility for your results

Shift 4. Stay positive and invest in your mental well-being 

Shift 5. Lead with empathy and listening 

Are you ready to master your attitude - a "little thing that makes a big difference"? Keep reading to understand the research behind each of these shifts and learn about real world results.

Shift 1. Embrace a growth mindset - a "never-stop-learning" attitude

As you rise in the executive ranks and as you grow your business, adapt or die is real. The moment you think you “know it all,” you stop growing. And in business, if you’re not growing, you’re falling behind. High achievers see challenges as opportunities to get better, not threats to their ego. Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck found that people with a “growth mindset” consistently outperform those with a fixed mindset. (1) Believing you can improve makes you more resilient and creative in solving problems. As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

Technology leader Satya Nadella prioritized a growth mindset at Microsoft, turning employees into “learn-it-alls” instead of “know-it-alls.” During COVID, researchers even found that employees who embraced ideas like, “I can get better at remote work” felt less stress and stayed more productive than those who were negative. It’s no wonder companies like Microsoft now actively train for an “always be learning” mindset. (2)

Adopt the “willing to learn” mentality. If you catch yourself thinking, for example, “I’m not good at X,” reframe it to:  “I am willing to learn X.” And be OK with feeling some discomfort. And instead of being afraid of failing, ask: “What can I learn from this?” An attitude of continuous learning will keep you adaptable and primed for new opportunities.

Shift 2. Choose your attitude in adversity

Adversity does happen: job losses, product failures, workplace conflicts, financial losses, other disappointments and challenges. What separates leaders who crumble from those who rise is attitude. When things go wrong, can you stay composed and find a path forward? Your mindset in a crisis can turn challenges into opportunities.

Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, wrote "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms: to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances." In other words, you often can’t control what happens, but you can control your response. If you look back at history’s great leaders, you’ll notice a common thread: their ability to turn hardship into resilience, finding meaning and opportunity even when times were tough.

Resilience isn’t just self-help talk; it’s now a top business priority. According to McKinsey & Company “resilience” is the “the ability to deal with adversity, to withstand shock, and to adapt fast.” They found that during the period of 2020-2021, “resilient” companies delivered 50% higher shareholder returns than their less resilient peers. These organizations prepared for challenges, disruptions, stayed flexible, and kept optimism alive amid the challenges. (3)

Train yourself in the moment of adversity to pause and ask: “What’s one thing I can do or control right now?” Focus on that. Encourage your team to view challenges as puzzles rather than roadblocks. That’s why sayings like “The obstacle is the way” can be effective. By consciously choosing a positive, proactive attitude when the pressure is on, you’ll respond with solutions instead of excuses. This attitude keeps you and your team moving forward when it matters most.

Shift 3. Take ownership 

If you want to lead, stop being a victim to circumstances. High-performing leaders adopt an attitude of ownership over their outcomes, rather than blaming the market, the economy, circumstances or people. This makes you proactive and more trusted as a leader. In other words, take 100% responsibility for your results.

Psychologists talk about locus of control. People with an internal locus believe they influence their own destiny; those with an external locus blame outside forces. Studies show people with an internal locus of control are generally more successful in all aspects of life. (4) Why? Because they take initiative. In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey expressed it as “Be Proactive.” (5) In other words, it’s about believing you’re steering the course and not just along for the ride.

Today's top leaders increasingly embody "extreme ownership."  This is a term defined by former Navy Seal, Jocko Willink, and it means taking complete responsibility for everything in your world, regardless of circumstances, and refusing to blame others when things go wrong. (7) McKinsey & Company emphasizes a “lean-forward” or proactive posture for CEOs in uncertain times. (3) Instead of accepting the hand they’re dealt, winning leaders ask, “How can I play this hand to win?” For instance, during industry challenges, proactive executives don’t wait to react; they preemptively reinvent business models. An example is when Netflix shifted to streaming before DVDs became obsolete. And, keep in mind,  an ownership mindset is contagious. Teams led by accountable leaders tend to take more initiative themselves.

Take 100% responsibility for your results. As Jocko Willink says, “Leaders must own everything in their world. There is no one else to blame.” (7)  This attitude pushes you to find solutions. If a project fails, instead of saying, “The market was against us,” ask “What could I have done differently?” Encourage your team to embrace extreme ownership. By taking ownership, you’ll start seeing more ways to solve problems. Remember: a proactive attitude isn’t about being a victim or blaming yourself, it’s about empowering yourself to make change.

Shift 4. Stay positive and invest in your mental well-being

Leadership is a mental journey. And it’s a marathon, not a sprint. If your mind is weighed down by negativity or burnout, you won’t perform at your peak. The attitude you bring - optimistic or pessimistic - spreads to your team and directly impacts results. A positive mindset isn’t about rainbows and unicorns; it’s about maintaining the mental energy and clarity to lead effectively. And your attitude signals an energetic signature which others pick up on.

Psychologist Martin Seligman studied sales professionals and found a stunning result: the most optimistic sales agents sold 37% more insurance than the pessimistic ones. Optimists also stayed in their jobs longer, while pessimists were more likely to quit under pressure. (8) The lesson? Believing in positive outcomes and focusing on solutions actually results in tangible performance gains. Similarly, positive psychology research shows that practices like gratitude and positive self-talk improve resilience and creativity. Like Zig Ziglar once said, "Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude."

Forward-thinking companies treat mental health and positivity as strategic assets. Why? Happy, balanced employees produce more. A 2019 Oxford University study confirmed that workers are 13% more productive when happy. (9) No wonder we’ve witnessed a proliferation in  mindfulness programs, coaching, and mental health days at work. Companies recognize that a positive, healthy mindset isn’t a “soft” benefit, but a performance multiplier.

To cultivate the habit of optimism, start meetings by acknowledging wins to set a positive to. For yourself and others, build a daily mindset reset: whether it’s a 5-minute “strategic pause” or meditation, a quick gratitude list, or a workout, treat your mental well-being like a key part of your job. When facing a challenge, consciously reframe your perspective by asking yourself “What opportunity does this problem hide?” This isn’t naive cheerleading; it’s training your brain to stay solution-focused. By prioritizing a positive attitude and mental fitness, you’ll make better decisions and keep your team motivated through ups and downs.

Shift 5. Lead with empathy and listening

In high-stakes environments, it’s easy to become overly authoritative and in-charge. But here’s the paradox: often the most effective leaders lead quietly. Your attitude toward others, for example - whether you truly listen and empathize, or just command and micromanage -  directly affects trust, loyalty, and performance. An executive whose attitude communicates a willingness to learn from you and with will unlock far more from their team, than one who signals “I know better than you."

Stephen Covey said: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” (5) Great leaders from Abraham Lincoln to modern day leaders,  share a common attitude of humility and curiosity. They listen more than they talk. Decades ago, Dale Carnegie taught that showing genuine interest in others wins you influence, a principle that hasn’t changed. Adopting an attitude of empathy isn’t about being “nice” for its own sake; it creates the psychological safety where people give you their best. Keep in mind that leadership is about people, and your people won’t go all-in for someone who doesn’t care about them.

Today’s workplace heroes are often the calm, empathetic leaders who empower others. In fact, empathy is now recognized as a hard business skill because it impacts results. Research in 2021 by Catalyst found that employees with highly empathic senior leaders reported higher levels of creativity and engagement compared to those with less empathic leaders. (10) And an Ernst & Young study reported 86% of employees feel that empathetic leadership boosts morale. (11)

Ready to build your empathy muscle? In your next meeting, prepare to be an active listener. Really listen and ask open-ended questions that begin with “Who, What, Where, When or How?” And actively listen to the responses. When a colleague or an employee shares a concern, mirror it back. For example, if they say something like “There isn’t enough time to get this done.” You can mirror back, in a warm tone: “Not enough time?” This shows you’re really listening. Small shifts like this build trust. Leading with empathy doesn’t mean avoiding tough decisions; it means you’ll make those calls with better information and a team that’s working with you.

Today you learned about five attitude shifts to conquer your mind and elevate your leadership.

I’m curious, which of these mindset shifts do you find the most challenging, and why?  Is it staying optimistic during challenging times, or maybe remembering to slow down and listen? I’d love to hear your perspective because awareness is the first step to improvement!  Please email me at [email protected]

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Sources:

(1) Stanford University - Teaching Commons. Growth Mindset and Enhanced Learning. Accessed on May 11, 2025 https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/teaching-guides/foundations-course-design/learning-activities/growth-mindset-and-enhanced-learning#:~:text=Growth%20mindset%20and%20learning

(2) Microsoft WorkLab Perspectives:  Want to Improve Your Peformance? Start with Your Mindset. Accessed on May 11, 2025 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/athletes-improve-their-mindset#:~:text=And%20with%20the%20workplace%20upended,can%20get%20better%20at%20this%E2%80%9D (3) The McKinsey Podcast. Hatami, Homayoun and Segel, Liz Hilton. (April 6, 2023). Six CEO Priorities for 2023. Accessed on May 11, 2025 https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/six-ceo-priorities-for-2023

(4) Lancer, Darlene. (March 26, 2016). Strive for an Internal Locus of Control. Accessed on May 11, 2025 https://www.dummies.com/article/body-mind-spirit/emotional-health-psychology/psychology/diagnoses/codependency/strive-for-an-internal-locus-of-control-144334/#:~:text=People%20with%20an%20internal%20locus,determine%20your%20locus%20of%20control

(5) Covey, Stephen R. (1989, 2004). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Simon & Schuster.

(6) Sigmon, Vaughn. Extreme Ownership in Leadership: Lessons from Jocko Willink and Lief Babin. Results Driven Leadership website. Accessed on May 11, 2025 https://rdltraining.com/leadership/extreme-ownership-in-leadership-lessons-from-jocko-willink-and-leif-babin/
(7) Goodreads website. Accessed on May 11, 2025 https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7327053

(8) Seligman, Martin E.P. (2006). Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. Vintage.

(9) University of Oxford, Said Business School News. (October 17, 2019). Happy workers 13% more productive, finds Oxford Said research. Accessed on May 11, 2025 https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/news/happy-workers-13-more-productive-finds-oxford-said-research

(10) Catalyst News. (September 14, 2021). Empathic leaders drive employee engagement and innovation. Accessed on May 11, 2025. https://www.catalyst.org/about/newsroom/2021/empathic-leaders-drive-employee-engagement

(11) EY Press Release. (March 30, 2023). New EY US Consulting study: employees overwhelmingly expect empathy in the workplace, but many say it feels disingenuous. Accessed on May 11, 2025 https://www.ey.com/en_us/newsroom/2023/03/new-ey-us-consulting-study