Learn to say what you CAN do!

Always find ways to express what you CAN or WILL do versus what you CAN’T or WON’T do.

Most people are constantly faced with others telling them what they CAN’T do without being provided any alternate solutions to the problem. This can be quite frustrating to the person who hears it (whether or not it’s an employer, spouse, parent, etc.). Think about how much nicer it is to hear about what you CAN do!

For example, instead of saying…

“I can’t make it to the office until 10:30 tomorrow because I have to take the dog to the vet.” (CAN’T DO ATTITUDE)

Say…

“My pet is ill and I would really like to take them to the vet tomorrow. I will work late and make sure this doesn’t impact our project schedule if I could come in at 10:30 am after the appointment. Would that be ok?” (CAN DO ATTITUDE)

OR, some other examples of positive things you can say to your managers might include…

“How else could I help the company achieve its goals?”
“I’m finished with the 2nd floor framing plan, what can I do to help out now?”

So, the next time you catch yourself saying to someone what you CAN’T do, stop yourself and express what you CAN do. And then, let us know if you see a different reaction from the person you said it to. We want to hear from you after you try this – e-mail Brian at Brian.Quinn@FindYourEngineer.com.