Positive airmanship powerful tool for teamwork Published Jan. 21, 2014 By Chief Master Sgt. Charles Monk 621st Contingency Response Wing command chief TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- When I was a young airman first class, I had a master sergeant NCO in charge who told me once, "You've probably got a good career ahead of you. If you've got one problem, it's that you're too positive all the time." That really threw me. I've had 24 years to think about that statement and I think, absolutely, that he was wrong. As a matter of fact, my personal experience tells me that positive attitudes are force multipliers. Old adages abound that emphasize this. "You catch more flies with honey, than you do with vinegar." That's true. Try it around your workplace. Nobody likes working with someone who is always complaining or watching the clock so they can just leave. A smile and some levity around a workplace can make the entire office an enjoyable place for everyone. I was a member of a flight like that as a staff sergeant and, 15 years later, we all stay in contact with each other. I think most of us even consider that one of the best assignments we ever had because of the camaraderie and the feeling that the workplace was a great place to be. Those positive attitudes also help us deal with the bad stuff in our lives. Everyone has trying times, but as our recent resiliency classes point out, those who avoid "catastrophizing" can weather those storms better than most. Additionally, study after study shows optimists also tend to be healthier than pessimists. It certainly makes you feel better. Considering what our Airmen are facing today, a positive attitude will certainly take them further than a pessimistic one. Force-shaping initiatives, including retention boards that our enlisted corps has never faced, bring an element of the unknown to what many thought were "safe" careers. Airmen at their 15 year mark may now be looking at possible retirement five years earlier than they had anticipated. A positive attitude, though, can change that feeling of fear of the unknown to one of marching out on a new great adventure with opportunities ahead. Most importantly, though, for today's Air Force, a positive attitude is extremely valuable in creating a positive work environment. Obviously the Air Force thinks this is important as we have added "organizational climate" to our enlisted performance report and officer performance report evaluations. One person can change that workplace climate, whether that is in a positive or a negative way. When the unit exudes a positive attitude, it helps create a feeling of mutual respect where everyone is a valuable member of the team. I am more convinced than ever. We need to stay positive and I'm positive that the master sergeant who advised me 24 years ago was wrong.