Does Having a Positive Attitude Affect Performance?

Performance is an attitude. How we perform is always a result of the attitudes we have toward our own abilities and the opportunities we believe we have to reach. This is an elementary concept of goal setting. A low performance level often results from not having an adequate attitude.


We can think of attitude as a fuel. If we don't fuel our cars properly, we will soon become very poor gas mileage. On the other hand, if we put good gas in our cars, we won't get into accidents. It's similar to how an improperly fitted seat can be hazardous to your body. You can remedy the problem by fitting the seat properly. The same thing applies to your performance level.

Many people incorrectly believe that attitude and performance are two separate things. They are, of course, related, but they are also separate causes and effects. Attitude determines the strength of your will, which in turn, determines your ability to achieve your goals.

This may seem like a long and complicated way of explaining it, but really all you need to do is look at someone with a bad attitude. It's hard to argue with someone who has bad intentions. Their actions prove their point. They are not doing anything that is positive for them personally or for the world. Rather than allowing their attitude to guide them, they act in ways that are self-destructive.

Conversely, someone with a good attitude believes in himself and his capabilities. He is succeeding because he has the right approach to his goals. He is not hoping to succeed based on what others expect of him. He knows that if he succeeds, he will feel proud of himself and that he has contributed something to society. People with positive attitudes are generally happier than those who dwell on failure and despair.

If you want to attain your maximum performance level, you must maintain a positive attitude. When we say "achieve", we don't just mean we'll be good at something. We mean that we will go beyond our current ability and do something extraordinary. This extra effort usually results in a big jump in our productivity. Our attitude has a direct impact on our performance. People with positive attitudes believe they are capable of doing more and achieve more.

When your attitude is healthy, it can really help you focus on the task at hand. It can help you think clearly and increase productivity. Your mind won't wander or get distracted. Your energy will be flowing at a high rate.

If your performance starts to decline, even for the briefest of moments, you should examine your attitude. Is it one that can be changed? Is it one that you can control? Your attitude can give you a huge advantage over the competition.

If your attitude is negative, even if you perform well, it can actually drain your energy. The best performance will never be achieved if you are having a negative attitude. Your performance might even get worse. A positive, upbeat attitude can provide enormous advantages.

A lot of time is spent by people at work, setting the tone for performance. Their performance begins the day they arrive. It is crucial that employees create an atmosphere that fosters creativity and energy.

An often overlooked attribute of a positive, upbeat attitude is the power of expectation. It has been said that expectation makes all the difference. People with positive attitudes expect their capabilities to be greater than their reality. If you start the day with a positive and optimistic attitude, you will be much more likely to persist through poor conditions and come out a much more successful person.


There is no question that self-esteem and performance are closely intertwined. It only takes a small change in thinking to have a significant impact on performance. When your thoughts are not aligned with your reality, you will struggle to maintain high levels of performance. That means that poor performance is a function of a negative mental attitude.