Attitude

There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference.
The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.

What is Attitude? A manner showing ones feeling or thoughts.

Effects of a good attitude

Life is easier Success comes more quickly (especially at work) Your health is improved
If you love what you do, you will never work another day in your life. People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.
--Norman Vincent Peale

Attitudes and Change

People build up attitudes which fit their needs and values as they perceive them to be

Cognitive
What a person knows about the situation

Affective
How the person feels about it

ASPECTS OF ATTITUDE

Behavioural
How the person reacts

Attitudes and Change

You cant simply expose people to new attitudes and expect them to accept them

Key Influencers
Formal work teams

WORK CLIMATE

Previous Experience

+
Frames of Reference

ATTITUDES +
Informal Groups

Existing values, beliefs and theories

GROUP THINK

Perception of need

Changing the Attitude

Using a participatory approach may help the change process:
PROVIDING HELP TO MEET THE CHANGE BUILDING ON THE PAST COMMUNICATION

BARGAINING

INITIATING CHANGE

GAINING COMMITMENT

EARLY INVOLVEMENT TURNING PERCEPTIONS OF THREAT INTO OPPORTUNITY ECONOMIC INCENTIVES

It helps to develop an adaptive learning capacity within the organisation

Changing the Attitude

Your aim with any individual is to help them develop:

A personal need to change Commitment to an appropriate course of action The skills they need to maintain that course of action

Just talking and listening can start to have the desired effect

Changing the Attitude

Now you can use this information to help decide whether to: Increase the driving forces but REMEMBER: The Greater the Push the Greater the Resistance

AND / OR Eliminate or reduce the resisting forces - Dont underestimate the value of simple actions

Just talking and listening can start to have the desired effect

Changing the Attitude

Empirical
Rational explanation of need for change

Coercive
Imposing the change - use of authority

So Which CHANGE STRATEGIES will be most effective?

Reeducative

Highlighting the benefits of change

Changing the Attitude

Influencing Tactics - all based on exerting pressure

PUSH
Assertiveness Imposed Targets Blocking

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES Unpredictable response Negative after-effects Resentment Short-lived?

PULL
Incentives Recognition Advancement

Can be extremely successful Appropriate for immediate behaviour change Suitable if not concerned about changing attitudes

Unpredictable response Short-lived? Would need topping up

Changing the Attitude

PERSUASION
ADVANTAGES Logic Compromise Exchange of Views Give and Take Training Propaganda Argument Evidence of success Negotiation DISADVANTAGES

Involves change of attitude Therefore more likely to be a long term solution

Can take much longer Can be more effort May involve more people

Using Multiple Strategies may also be the way forward!

AFFECTIVE
THE FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS TOWARD AN OBJECT

COGNITIVE
KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEFS

Graphic Rating Scale Stressing Pictorial Visual Communications

3 Very Good

1 Very Poor

The Likert Scale

An extremely popular means for measuring attitudes. Respondents indicate their own attitudes by checking how strongly they agree or disagree with statements. Response alternatives: strongly agree(2), agree(1), uncertain(0), disagree(-1), and strongly disagree(-2).

LIKERT SCALE FOR MEASURING ATTITUDES TOWARD TENNIS

It is more fun to play a tough, competitive tennis match tan to play an easy one. ___Strongly Agree (2) ___Agree (1) ___Not Sure (0) ___Disagree (-1) ___Strongly Disagree(-2)

LIKERT SCALE FOR MEASURING ATTITUDES TOWARD TENNIS Continued

There is really no such thing as a tennis stroke that cannot be mastered.
___Strongly Agree ___Agree ___Not Sure ___Disagree ___Strongly Disagree

LIKERT SCALE FOR MEASURING ATTITUDES TOWARD TENNIS Continued

Playing tennis is a great way to exercise. ___Strongly Agree ___Agree ___Not Sure ___Disagree ___Strongly Disagree

A weight is assigned to each position on the rating scale. Traditionally, scores are +2, +1, 0, -1, -2,.

SCALES FOR MEASURING ATTITUDES TOWARD TENNIS

(+3,+2,+1,0,-1,-2,-3 )

Exciting ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : Calm Interesting ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : Dull Simple___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ Complex Passive ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ : ___ Active

The attitude-behavior link

Attitude is the way we think, feel and act. And it is the way we react to the world around us. It determines the quality and effectiveness of our thinking, emotions and behavior, and the positive or negative consequences of that behavior. Attitude is based upon our expectations and perceptions, our definition of "reality."

The three basic attitudes in the working world.

1. Spectators with neutral attitudes. They watch life happen and observe others. They play it safe and avoid risks. Spectators are afraid of change. They often are tired or detached. Their defining word is "maybe." Typical phrases: "I doubt it," "I might," "I dont know" and "I dont want to. 2. Critics with negative attitudes. They comment on life and complain. They critique after the fact, imposing their "expertise" and finding fault in others. Critics are annoyed about change. They often appear frustrated or pessimistic. Their defining word is "No!" Typical phrases: "I cant," "I wont," "No way" and "You made me."

3. Players with positive attitudes. They actively participate in life and embrace opportunities. They take risks and are willing to make mistakes. Players enjoy learning and change. They usually are confident and optimistic. Their defining word is "Yes!" Typical phrases: "I can," "I will," "Im sure" and "I choose to." Most of us have some of each type and attitude in us. Often, though, one general attitude predominates. A study of success factors by Telemetrics International found one significant difference between high and low achievers was not education or intelligence but attitude.

We cant control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we react. Recall a challenge you faced in your interactions with others (whether on your current job, in a previous job or in your personal life). Describe (in writing) the situation, the people involved, what was challenging and how you handled it. What were your actions? Your thoughts? Your feelings? What statements did you use? In what tone of voice? What was your body language and facial expression?

Look at what youve written. Were you a spectator, critic or player?

The good news is that a negative or neutral attitude can be changed. One way to do this and perhaps the most powerful way is by listening to the way you talk to yourself and turning negative statements to positive ones.
By the time were 17, weve taken in - and recorded 150,000 pieces of negative data: "You cant," "You shouldnt," "Youll only fail," "Dont try," "Who are you to...?" If you fill your mind with negative thoughts, you will have a negative attitude. But these negative thoughts can be transformed into positive thoughts, attitudes and actions.

Monitor self-talk. Catch yourself using negative phrases and replace them. If you sometimes say "Im a failure," use "Ive not yet succeeded." If you say "I messed up," try instead "I was confident enough to try.

There are four steps to changing your self-talk:

1. Recognize it. Pay attention to your internal dialogue, especially when you feel disappointed or frustrated. What are you saying to yourself? Its probably negative, and untrue or unfair. 2. Stop it. You dont deserve the kind of negative judgments you may have been making on yourself. 3. Restate it. Its very important to reframe negative statements into positive , more accurate ones. For example, change: "Ill never ..." to "That was disappointing. Oh well, better next time." 4. Reward yourself. Acknowledge that you caught negative statements and turned them around.

As with learning any skill, practice until it becomes a habit. Reframing one or two negative thoughts isnt going to help that much. Remember, youre challenging a lifetime of heavily negative programming. More tips: 1. Stay in the present tense. Where do you spend most of your mental life? Ruminating about the past? Worrying about the future? Planning is effective, but worrying is totally unproductive. Stay focused on what youre thinking, feeling and doing at this time.

2. Talk to yourself in a calm, compassionate manner. Instead of yelling at yourself, try "Its OK, [your nickname], just relax. 3. Talk yourself out of unreasonable expectations and fearful thoughts. How reasonable, realistic or likely are the events youre projecting? If theyre not reasonable, tell yourself to "stop" and reframe your expectations to more likely (and less alarming) ones. 4. Surround yourself with positive people. It is hard to remain positive around nay-Sayers and critics. Separate yourself from relationships that suck your energy, selfconfidence and self-worth. Reach out to those who give you positive strokes and shared values.