5 quick ways to keep a positive attitude at work

skills positivity be the buzz

Having a positive attitude at work makes everything better. From learning new skills to soaking up useful feedback, these five quick ways to keep a positive attitude at work can help you feel and be your best.

Having a positive attitude can help you in any work situation – it’s an important part of boosting your self belief. Self belief isn’t just a quality, it’s a skill. You can build it over time to rise as a Young Professional, whoever you are and whatever your background is.

What is a positive attitude?

A positive attitude is more than sticking on a smile and thinking happy thoughts. Taking a positive attitude to challenges means trying to see possibilities instead of dead ends. It means aiming to act out of curiosity and hope, because fear can stop you from moving forwards. A positive attitude is about looking ahead, and wanting to work towards something better.

Here are five ways to keep up your positive attitude at work.

1. Working in a team? Surround yourself with people who have positive energy.

Are there people at work who have so much positive energy that you feel it rubbing off on you? Maybe they have lots of ideas, or a can-do attitude, or they love to share information that’s useful to you? Appreciate that extra dose of healthy motivation and feel it recharge your personal energy batteries in the workplace. You can’t choose your co-workers but you might find yourself gravitating towards people who enjoy a range of interests, and they like their job, and they are perhaps less likely to complain. Positive people can help you explore ways to enjoy the work you do, and grow as a person and a Young Professional.

2. Speak positively, think positively

It’s a small thing, but what you say can shape how you think. Imagine being faced with a new idea or way of doing things at work. If your first words are ‘oh no’, even as a joke, then you are beginning to see things in a negative light. If your first words are ‘that’s interesting’ or ‘woohoo, let’s do this’, or something that suggests you’re willing to embrace and explore change, you are already starting to see things in a positive light. That affects how you will approach the change, and it has a positive effect on people around you, too.

In a similar way, you can often get small-talk at work when people ask you how you are. They’re not expecting you to go into great detail, but of course you can share a little about yourself. If you reply “I’m exhausted”, or “I’m dreading this meeting coming up,” or something similarly negative, you may start feeling even more tired or negative than before. If you reply with a nice thing you did at the weekend, or if you say you’re looking forward to something coming up at work, you are using what you say to fill your mind – and that of your co-worker – with positive thoughts.

3. See problems as a hill to climb, not a pit to fall into

What’s the difference between a hill and a dark pit? When you reach the top of the hill you get to enjoy the view. All that hard work paid off and now you have a much clearer perspective on things!

Problems, changes and challenges are always going to crop up at work. Keep a positive attitude by viewing them as opportunities. When you put in the effort and stay creative with a fresh approach to solutions,  that problem might lead to achievement or something good. Even if it doesn’t, you did your best. Your positive attitude will help you to look at problems in a way that keeps you open and full of energy. That will help you have a better chance to solve them.

4. Stay positive with criticism and don’t take it personally

Being told you could do better at work is always hard to hear. In fact, if you have low self confidence or energy/resilience levels, you may find it useful to read this advice on how to take criticism at work while dealing with mental health struggles.

The best way to keep a positive attitude when you get critical feedback at work is to not take it personally. If your boss tells you your timekeeping needs to improve because you’re always late to work, that doesn’t make you a bad person. It’s a useful clue on how to improve. We all need to improve on something in our lives. Work on your timekeeping skills, and maybe you will get praise instead of criticism.

Always aim to treat criticism as a useful sign on where you can do better in order to achieve your full potential. Never see it as a personal attack on you. We can’t always get along with our boss or co-workers, but if a manager tells you where to improve, it’s usually because they want to help you be your best.

5. Stay curious and open to possibility

When you are curious about the world it keeps you open and fresh. It keeps you thinking about possibilities. If you are asked to learn something new at work – like a new piece of digital software, or some health and safety training – see it as an exciting opportunity.

  • Every new thing you learn at work adds to your list of professional skills and knowledge.
  • Every new experience you have at work can give you a better understanding of work culture.
  • Every conversation you have with a co-worker or boss can help you understand company traditions, requirements, goals and tricks of the trade that little bit more.
  • Even the podcasts you might listen to on the way to work can feed your brain and positive attitude.

So keep soaking in that information, because a willingness to learn is a BIG sign of a positive attitude at work!

Tagged in:

Discover Youth Friendly Employers

McDonald's Early Careers You probably knew you can get McDonald's Apprenticeships. Did you know you can also study for a FREE Management Degree? EXPLORE Coca-Cola EuroPacific Want to work for one of the most well-known brands in the world? They work hard to develop their young people! EXPLORE Taylor & Francis Early Careers Our international publishing company believes in doing things differently. You could be just what we need! EXPLORE Surrey County Council Careers Thinking about rewarding apprenticeships and early careers in a diverse environment? Fire up your career with SCC! EXPLORE Careers in Eyecare From healthcare lab to high street fashion - you don't need a degree to open your eyes to eyecare careers EXPLORE ABP Foods Apprenticeships, graduate schemes and an AMAZING early careers academy in the world of sustainable food EXPLORE Working in local government Local government touches everyone's lives every day EXPLORE Sodexo Come and EXPLORE your career at Sodexo. See what amazing opportunities come about along the way. EXPLORE Haven Joining Haven is more than just a job. Our early careers are a breath of fresh air! EXPLORE Historic England Discover early careers in heritage for all backgrounds, skills and interests. EXPLORE Catch22 Youth Services Want to overcome barriers in life, whatever your background? Want employers to give you a chance? We can help. EXPLORE The British Library Work experience, internships and apprenticeships with The British Library open up a WORLD of possibilities. EXPLORE Generation: Free Skills Training Get FREE skills and careers training today! Generation gives you skills and connects you with employers to find a job fast. EXPLORE Aspiration Training Traineeships & Apprenticeships in childcare, dental nursing, teaching, health/social care, and business admin EXPLORE Red Carnation Hotels Have fun at work with internships, degree apprenticeships and management schemes when you join Red Carnation Hotels. EXPLORE NCFE Vocational Qualifications Young people get amazing perks when they work for the NCFE, with apprenticeships and more. The training is great, too. EXPLORE Severn Trent Careers Discover opportunities for apprentices, graduates and undergraduates in the office and beyond! EXPLORE Environment Agency Careers Our work helps to protect and improve the environment to make it a better place for people and wildlife. Join us! EXPLORE Martin Brower Careers Break into business, admin and supply careers with Martin Brower. Don't settle for the status quo. EXPLORE Royal Air Force There’s nothing like a career in the RAF, it’s not just a job but a way of living. EXPLORE Careers in Racing Horse racing is a great career choice! British Racing is the 2nd largest spectator sport after football. EXPLORE Coach Core Apprenticeships See how Coach Core Apprenticeships get you into sport careers EXPLORE Essex Youth Service Aged 13-25 and live in Essex? Get involved in fun activities, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and online Plan B Traineeships. EXPLORE Get Into Teaching You can get a teaching degree for FREE with apprenticeships! EXPLORE Heidelberg Materials Play to your strengths. Travel the world - if you want to. Work with people, money, sales, or technical skills! EXPLORE IHG Early Careers Discover how you can grow your career in hospitality! EXPLORE Pret Apprenticeships & Careers When you apply for a Pret Apprenticeship or junior role, you’ll belong to a community of achievers. Get support on your own unique career journey! EXPLORE Prezzo Restaurant Careers Prezzo offers so many early careers, from cooking great food and giving great customer service to managing like a boss! EXPLORE VHR Technical Recruitment The VHR talent academy can help you get into a successful technical recruitment career - with NO experience! EXPLORE
VHR
CCEP

Email us at info@youthemployment.org.uk or call 01536 513388.

Build Skills + Confidence

Want a big boost in your life and work skills? Sign up to our free online Young Professional programme today!

Young Professional Programme

Get FREE skills training when you sign up. Get support with your personal confidence, positive attitude and coping with change!

Self Belief | Communication | Teamwork | Problem Solving | Self Management

FREE Online Courses

Boost your skills and careers confidence with FREE online courses. Complete them your own pace and get a certificate for your CV! Sign in as a Young Professional to get automatically enrolled.

Get Jobs + Experience

Find Opportunities

Looking for jobs and opportunities near you? Sign in as a Young Professional to see the latest jobs, apprenticeships, grad schemes, CV workshops, career events and early career opportunities in your area!

Latest Careers Help

Be Yourself

Mental Health

Stay Curious

Overcoming Barriers

For Students

Student Guides

For Teachers

Teacher Resources

Teachers - see how to use the Young Professional programme in your school or college, with lots of free teaching resources at your fingertips.