Take a personal inventory of your attitude. When you think of work, your coworkers, and your company, what is your first thought? If the first thought is negative, beware: You might be the problem.
Get input from someone whom you trust (a mentor) to be honest with you. Ask this person what his perception of your attitude is. Don't make excuses for the answer he gives you. Take it to heart and ascertain how you might correct it.
Create a written plan of action. Keep it close at hand and refer to it often. It should include overall career objectives and short-term goals.
Concentrate on a single facet of your plan. Success in one small area, whether expanding your professional network of contacts or improving a single aspect of your toolkit, goes a long way in improving your attitude and making your other goals seem achievable.
Numerous self-help books are on the market. Pick one and read it. Here are a few that I recommend:
Covey, Stephen. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York, NY: Free Press, 1990.
Maxwell, John and Zig Ziglar. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Nashville, TN: Nelson Books, 1998.
Blanchard, Kenneth. The One-Minute Manager. New York, NY: William Morrow & Company, 1982.
Johnson, Spencer. Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life. New York, NY: Putnam Pub Group, 1998.
