Denis Waitley says, “The winner’s edge is not in a gifted birth, in a high IQ, or in talent. The winner’s edge is in the attitude, not aptitude.”

Talent alone is not enough to sustain effective leadership. It’s your attitude that makes the difference. Our attitudes often determine whether we fail or succeed.

Leaders with negative attitudes never rise above their circumstances. They are driven by pessimism. They are generally selfish and have the inability to work with a team.

A positive attitude is the first step toward becoming an effective leader. Positive leaders motivate and inspire their teams. Effective leaders are optimistic and optimism is a result of our attitudes. Leaders with positive attitudes enable their organization to be more creative, more engaged, and to get more done!

Your attitude is contagious. An organization will always take on the personality of its leader. Those on your team will follow your lead. If you have a bad attitude, so will your team. If you’re a negative person, you’ll have a negative team. If your circumstances get the best of you, your team will be tossed by the events of each day. On the other hand, if you have a positive attitude, your team can overcome even the most difficult challenges because their attitude will reflect yours. If you accept bad breaks and move on, so will your team. A positive attitude will attract people to your team. They will want to be around you and they will be willing to follow you.

The good news is that attitude is a choice. What are you going to choose today?