Finding a good job in the world we live in is not an easy task, we know that well. Now, everything recruiters look for goes way beyond, it is no longer enough with your work experience, nor with a recommendation, not even with your résumé. Now they are looking for something more, and Donna Morris, the Chief People Officer of Walmart, is the one who has figured out what companies are looking for today. Want a spoiler? Your attitude.
Yes, your attitude. Morris says there is a type of worker that no one wants on their team, and it has nothing to do with degrees or experience, but with how they face their day-to-day problems, their daily life.
More than 20 years of experience back her, because she also manages the experience of more than 2.1 million employees. And every time she sees someone applying for a job, she thinks the same thing: how important attitude is.
It is not about being happy all the time, but…
Morris believes that the worst possible profile is someone who only brings problems, without ideas to solve them. It is not about being sad, it is not about being happy all the time, but a pessimistic attitude makes the work environment very complicated. And of course, the environment affects productivity, that (bad) energy affects the whole team, as if the atmosphere filled with pessimism for everyone.
And of course, think about it… who would want to be part of a team where the energy is constantly negative? No one, you know you wouldn’t want someone gray by your side all the time, someone who is frustrated and spreads frustration. It ends up wearing people down, blocking ideas and making projects stall.
Does this mean you have to fake optimism?
Noooo. And she makes that clear too. Morris does not support that “toxic optimism” that pretends to ignore problems or smile when things go wrong. In fact, she acknowledges that “it is unnatural and unrealistic for someone to be happy all the time”. The key is not to fall into a constant spiral of negativity, which can be a sign that the worker does not fit with the company… or with their own motivation.
This is not about putting on a good face all the time, but about adopting a constructive attitude. Are there problems? We solve them, we don’t complain. Those who simply complain but do not propose, end up becoming an obstacle for their team. And no, no one wants that.
What companies are looking for today
What this executive values most is initiative, collaboration, and constant curiosity. She talks about something she calls “radical intellectual curiosity”, that is, those people who try new tools, who share ideas, who get ahead of problems before they explode, and who research improvements (any kind) without being asked. In short, workers who contribute.
She also highlights the importance of delivering tasks before rather than after, helping other coworkers without anyone asking, and being open to new ways of working. An attitude that may seem simple, but is increasingly in demand in any company that wants to grow.
What advice do they give me if I’m looking for a job?
If you are looking for a job, or if you want to improve in the one you already have, your attitude may count more than your experience. In an increasingly collaborative and digital world, where teamwork is everything, companies want people who bring solutions, not more problems.
And it’s not about staying quiet in the face of difficulties. Quite the opposite. It’s about knowing how to point them out without becoming a brake for others, active communication and attitude, lots of attitude. Propose improvements, suggest different paths, help build. What leaders value most is surrounding themselves with people who move the team forward, not who drag it backward, so now you know 😉