Maintaining a positive attitude

- The first responsibility you have towards your fellow team members is not to drag them down by being negative. There's a big difference between speaking up when you've spotted a flaw in the plan and being negative about the work that needs to be done. When I was little, my brother developed a habit of saying "Do we have to?" whenever anything was announced, even if it was something really good like we're all going to the zoo. This dismal little voice would pipe up and say "Do we have to?" Luckily he grew out of that.

And you may have seen the Scottish guy on the TV comedy show 'Dad's Army' whose catchphrase is "We're doomed, we're all doomed." It sounds extra good with the Scottish accent that I can't really do, But the point is that no team needs someone like that. So, three things you can do. First, monitor yourself to make sure that you remain positive or at least you don't show it if you're feeling pessimistic. Second, make it a game to never say anything negative, even in the most testing situations.

And third, get others to point it out if you do say anything negative. Maybe the whole team would like to play this game. Instead of putting money in a box for swearing you could have a game where people have to put money into the box if they say anything negative. You'll be surprised how quickly not saying negative things translates into not even thinking negative things. And that's a habit that will then stay with you for life. And the great thing is that you get what you think about. So if you and the who team expect good things to happen then they will.

Can you imagine the Brazilian or the German football team wondering onto the pitch looking all miserable and mumbling, "Well, we'll probably lose "but let's get the game over with." I think you'll agree they'd be unlikely to win. So, ask yourself how good are you at starting out positive and then maintaining positive thoughts and words when things get tough.