Energy & Attitude Are Contagious
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Energy and attitude are contagious, and matter more than you might be aware of.
Your energy and your attitude, whether you’re aware of it or not, and the way you show up — your choice of words, tone, body language, your presence — affects everyone around you. And in the workplace, where collaboration and communication are key, that impact is amplified.
Energy is contagious.
We all have experienced when one person comes into a meeting in a great mood, and suddenly the whole room feels lighter. And we’ve all experienced when someone walks in like a storm cloud, and the whole vibe shifts. Energy and attitude are contagious and have significant impact. It’s not just feel-good stuff — it’s human dynamics.
Whether you're leading a team or part of one, your presence can lift a room or bring it down. It’s not about being the loudest or most upbeat person in the room. It’s about showing up with intention, thoughtfulness, and self-awareness.
“This isn’t about toxic positivity or pretending everything’s fine when it’s not.”
Don’t be a bummer.
Straight up: being a bummer is a bummer. One consistently negative person can drain a room or team.
That doesn't mean you need to slap on a smile and fake positivity when you're not feeling it — that’s not the point. This isn’t about toxic positivity or pretending everything’s fine when it’s not.
It’s about being aware of your influence. You can have a bad day, feel frustrated, or disagree with a decision — but how you express that matters. Consistent negativity tends to erode trust, morale, and team cohesion.
“You can bring the sun or the clouds into every room you enter.”
Own your weather.
Think of yourself as your own weather system. You can bring the sun or the clouds into every room you enter — every meeting, every Slack message, every quick catch-up over coffee. That doesn’t mean you need to be endlessly upbeat no matter what. It’s more about being aware and accountable for your impact.
Are you the person who often energizes others or someone who consistently brings the mood down with complaining and a negative outlook? Self-awareness here goes a long way. If you don’t know the answer to this question then start paying attention and observing.
If you care about your relationships, your team, your leadership, then focus on this. It isn’t about perfection, it’s about being more intentional of your impact. You don’t have to change who you are — but tune into the effect you have on the people around you.
Related Blogs:
Self Awareness: The Art of Not Sharing an Opinion
Improving Emotional Intelligence Part 4: Stop Talking Only About You
Improving Emotional Intelligence Part 2: Being Negative
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This article was created by Galen Emanuele for the #culturedrop. Free leadership and team culture content in less than 5 minutes a week. Check out the rest of this month's content and subscribe to the Culture Drop at https://bit.ly/culturedrop