A positive attitude is considered to be an essential characteristic of a civil servant who is often…

Question

A positive attitude is considered to be an essential characteristic of a civil servant who is often required to function under extreme stress. What contributes to a positive attitude in a person?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

A positive attitude grows from inner sources such as values, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence and a sense of purpose, sustained by role models, recognition and a humane workplace. Satish Dhawan's shielding of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam after the failed SLV-3 launch of 1979 shows how a supportive leader turns failure into resilience.

**Introduction**

A civil servant often works amid crises and pressure, and a positive attitude is the disposition to treat stress as a problem to solve rather than a threat to escape. It is built from within and sustained from outside.

**Inner Sources of a Positive Attitude**

1. **Values and upbringing**: Family socialisation plants honesty, hope and perseverance; Gandhi recalled his mother Putlibai's saintliness and vows as the deepest impression on his character.
2. **Self-efficacy and mindset**: Albert Bandura's self-efficacy, the belief that one can succeed, drives effort, and Carol Dweck's growth mindset makes failure feedback rather than defeat.
3. **Emotional intelligence and purpose**: Goleman's self-regulation lets an officer respond rather than react, while the Gita's Nishkama Karma frees the mind from fear of outcomes.

**Outer Supports That Sustain It**

SKETCH: concentric | Layers of a Positive Attitude
- Society and role models
- Workplace culture
- Family and upbringing
- Self: values, EI, purpose

1. **Role models and adversity**: T.N. Seshan's persistence showed that integrity works, and Satish Dhawan's shielding of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam after the failed SLV-3 launch of 1979 taught Kalam to treat failure as a lesson.
2. **Recognition and team culture**: Awards such as the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration and supportive seniors turn positivity into a shared habit.
3. **Health and balance**: Sleep, exercise, yoga and family time keep optimism from draining into burnout.

**Conclusion**

A positive attitude grows from inner values, self-belief and emotional skill, sustained by role models, recognition and a humane workplace. Cultivated through training like Mission Karmayogi, it keeps the civil servant calm and effective when citizens need them most.

A positive attitude is considered to be an essential characteristic of a civil servant who is often required to function under extreme stress. What contributes to a positive attitude in a person?

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