If you want to become a stronger leader in a small group, church ministry, business or organization it’s essential to have a “Winning Attitude.” I can grow your small group, ministry, business or organization by boosting your attitude.

As John Maxwell says, “Your attitude determines your altitude.” With that in mind, let’s take-off with 12 Thoughts On A Winning Attitude:

1. Attitudes Are Contagious

³³ Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” – 1 Cor. 15:33, NKJV

17 As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. – Proverbs 27:17, NKJV

As the scriptures above point out, our attitudes can either have a negative or positive impact on other people. Living in the internet age I think we’re all familiar with the phenomena of “viral videos.” When it comes to you personally, what viral attitude are you spreading around to others right now?

2. ‘Agents of Change’ Think Differently Than the Majority

If you want to become a person that effects change around you, you can’t be like everyone else. If success was easy, everybody would be successful, but everybody isn’t. You have to think differently in order to achieve different results. Committing yourself to a Winning Attitude is like inoculating yourself against the outbreak of stinkin’ thinkin’ that’s typically all around us.

3. You Will Become What You Think

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” –Proverbs 23:7, paraphrased

Your tomorrow is determined by what you are thinking today. Whatever thoughts consume you about your life will eventually be seen next week or next month or next year. Our emotions are rooted in our thinking, not the other way around. Do you really want to be a bitter, jealous and angry person six months from now? Start thinking differently today!

4. You Can’t have a Bad Attitude and Encourage Others

Encouragement flows from a source of abundance. A negative attitude will distract and blind us from opportunities to encourage those around us. I focus on maintaining a Winning Attitude because I want to lift others up around me, not tear them down or deplete them.

5. Attitude Is Connected To Productivity

Dr. Jan Stringer from the National Business Research Institute says, “An employee with a positive attitude usually enjoys the work that they do and feels empowered and recognized for their contributions…An employee that is complacent and does not really enjoy their work, but is simply there for a paycheck usually does not produce at a high level, develops a bad attitude and generally drags a team down.”

6. Attitude Impacts Your Physical Health

“A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body,

jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” –Proverbs 14:30, NLT

ABC News reported, “Researchers found that having a positive attitude and a sense of humor could play a role in living a longer, healthier life.”

7. Believe the Future Is Brighter

Job had twice as much at the end of his life than he had before he lost everything (Job 42:10). The Prophet Haggai said the glory of the latter days shall be greater than the former (Haggai 2:9). The Apostle Paul said, “All things work together for good to those who love God and who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).” He also said that believers should continually be transformed from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18). What excuse do you have to be doubtful about tomorrow?

8. Spotlight and Celebrate the Positive

Little kids will often be mischievous in an effort to get attention. If a parent isn’t careful, they will spend all of their attention on the rebellious child and neglect the sibling who is behaving properly. It won’t be long before the obedient child follows suit.

As leaders we will always have people on our teams and in our organizations that ignore directions and cause trouble. We need to address those situations but not at the expense of ignoring the people who are doing the right things. Make sure you find opportunities to praise those who are running with the vision.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21

9. Believe the Best About Spiritual Leaders

¹⁹ Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. -1 Timothy 5:19

As a pastor, I find many cynical believers today that have a negative predisposition towards authority figures. They are waiting to catch wind of a controversy in the church or itching to uncover and start one themselves.  Paul told Timothy, don’t even entertain negative static unless you hear from two or three different sources. All leaders are flawed people. If you’re waiting to prove their imperfect you won’t have to wait very long. People with a Winning Attitude make themselves part of the solution instead being part of the problem.

10. Combat Challenges With Creativity

A Winning Attitude is always hopeful about solving problems. This allows them to persevere longer than their contemporaries. When others give up hope, the person with a positive attitude is forced to be creative in order to achieve their goal. Anyone can tell me why something isn’t working, few can tell me how to fix it.

“I didn’t fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.” – Benjamin Franklin

“An inventor fails 999 times, and if he succeeds once, he’s in. He treats his failures simply as practice shots.” -Charles F. Kettering

11. Prophesy in the Graveyard (Ez. 37:1-14) and Praise Your Way Out of Prison (Acts 16:23-33)

Never stop praying, believing and praising God! We serve a God of miracles who answers prayer. If Christ’s death on the cross was all He ever did for us, we could worship Him for all of eternity. Truth be told, we can thank Him for what He’s done and what He’s going to do. Are there some dead bones surrounding your circumstance? Speak life to them! Are there some issues and relationships that are shackling you? Thank God for His breakthrough power! Choose to be a victor instead of a victim.

12. The Winning Attitude Is A Thermostat, Not A Thermometer

A thermometer simply tells you what the temperature is, while a thermostat sets the temperature. Remember, Jesus could lift up sinners because He was stronger in God than sinners were in their sin. Our hope must be anchored in Christ as an immovable force for others to draw strength from. When it comes to your attitude, are you a thermometer or a thermostat?

God bless…

CC Image • bigbirdz on Flickr