Three Ways You Display a “Can Do” Attitude

This is not the over-caffeinated cheerleader attitude some people turn on depending on who is watching.

Some people always make things happen, and some people always find reasons why they can’t make it happen. Even in the face of insurmountable odds, some people always find a way to accomplish the mission. The ones who accomplish the mission have a “can do” attitude.

Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t - you are right.”

I am an observer of people. I am paid to go into organizations and observe leaders and teams and give my advice on how they can improve. The leaders who bring me in always want to know “Who stood out?” They ask who their future leaders are. The easiest way to identify those people is based on their attitudes.

We are not talking about the over-caffeinated cheerleader attitude that some people turn on and off based on who is in the room. We are talking about the “can do” attitude that the military values and expects from the front line soldier all the way up to the commanding general.

The military understands that the best plans are going to fall apart once the first bullets are fired. As soon as obstacles present themselves or unexpected circumstances arise, do the soldiers throw their hands up in the air and give up? Or do they adopt that “can do” attitude and find a way to accomplish the mission, no matter what?