Your Attitude Determines Career Altitude
Did you know that today there are more incredible career opportunities than there are people seeking them. I submit
that skill level or a good resume isn’t always your biggest challenge, but what is the impediment is attitude, first
impression and confidence.
Ever hear the saying, “It is your attitude, not your aptitude that will determine your altitude in life”. When a person
walks into a room, before they even open their mouth, you notice their attitude and formulate an opinion. In fact
studies show that the majority of our communication is non-verbal and only a small percentage of our
communication is through the spoken word. Research tells us that 55% is communicated visually, 38% vocally
(tone, pitch, volume) and only 7% verbally. Interviewers will form an opinion of you before you even say hello!
People (and interviewers) will always see you before they hear you.
To illustrate the importance of attitude and impression, the very first thing I do when I conduct one of my career
seminars is to illustrate the importance of attitude and non verbal communication. I typically select the most bored,
inattentive member of the audience and ask them to join me in front of the room as a volunteer. I ask them to
imagine a person they have met who was bored, depressed, angry, possibly out of work and lacking purpose and
passion. I then request that they walk the length of the room with the body language and posture that this person
exhibited. In essence, imitate the behavior of a person who was unhappy. They tend to be overly dramatic with slow
pace, slouched shoulders, frown, head down, etc. I then ask the audience to describe their observations which always
conform that this behavior signified a person who was down on their luck; a poor attitude.
After itemizing all the non-verbal attributes of an unfulfilled person, I then ask the same volunteer to suddenly
change their demeanor and act and walk like a person who is enjoying a passionate career, a pe