A complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings an

1
Whats an Attitude?

• How do I get one?

2
Outline/Objectives

• Define attitude.
• Types of attitude.
• What influences attitude.
• Coping with those with an attitude different than
  your own.

3
By Definition

• A complex mental state involving beliefs and
  feelings and values and dispositions to act in
  certain ways.
• (Princeton University)

4
Theres more

• (1)The arrangement of the parts of the body
  posture (2a)a mental position with regard to a
  fact or state (b) a feeling or emotion toward a
  fact or state (3) an organismic state of
  readiness to respond in a characteristic way to a
  stimulus (as an object, concept or situation).
• (Merriam-Websters Medical Desk Dictionary, 3rd
  Edition)

5
And Still More

• (1) Position of the body and limbs. (2) Manner
  of acting. (3) Social or clinical psychology-a
  relatively stable and enduring predisposition to
  behavior or react in a certain way toward people,
  objects, institutions, or issues.
• (Stedmans Medical Dictionary, 28th Edition)

6
For today/our definition

• A virus that can be contagious.
• Has a needleless cure.
• Can be modified, the easy or the hard way.
• Has identifiable strands/warning signs.

7
Bad Strands of the Attitude Virus

• The Tea Pot blows his lid.
• The Mr./Ms. Universe wields quality like a
  weapon.
• The Resistant Strand threatened by change.
• The Not-My-Jobber narrow views block .progress.
• The Rumor Monger spreads stories everywhere.
• The Uncommitted simply does not care.
• Chicken Little always expects the sky to fall.
• (adapted from Curing Negativity in the
• Workplace, 2nd Edition)

8
Additional No-Name Strands

• Not a team player
• Does the minimum
• Disrespectful
• Insubordinate
• Always negative
• Unhappy
• Pessimistic
• Unpleasant

9
Additional Strands (cont)

• Offers no solutions
• Surly
• Tardy
• Gossipy
• Clock Watcher
• Prima donna
• Defensive
• Argumentative

10
Additional Strands (cont)

• Work to Rule
• Abrasive
• Rude
• Confrontational
• Disruptive
• Inflexible
• Sarcastic (de Jager, 2005)

11
Consequences

• Erosion of team spirit.
• Morale suffers, feelings get hurt
• Poor quality service, reputation suffers
• Frustration on the part of others because they
  have to pick up the slack
• The virus spreads
• Communication suffers

12
More Consequences

• Productivity suffers
• Management has to crack down because of perceived
  dissatisfaction, paranoia ensues.
• (Peter deJager is a keynote speaker on Change
  Management issues)

13
The Good News

• Attitudes may either influence behaviors, or be
  influenced by behaviors.

14
The Bad News

• There is no pill.

15
The Official Theories on Attitudinal Change
(Vaccines)

• Persuasive Communication Works
• Balance Theory
• Cognitive Consistency
• Cognitive Dissonance
• Planned Behavior
• Congruity Theory

16
Persuasive Communication

• Changes in attitudes can result in the absence or
  presence of rewards.
• Acceptance or resistance to an attitude or
  opinion is dependent on the incentives/rewards
  that are offered in communication with those
  involved.
• (Hovland, Janis Kelly, 1953)

17
Balance Theory

• When beliefs are unbalanced, the is a disruption
  in equilibrium of a system and then pressure to
  change attitudes.
• The two main factors that affect balance are
  sentiment (liking, approving, admiring) and unity
  (similarity, proximity, membership).
• (Heider, 1958)

18
Consistency/Dissonance

• People will try to maintain consistency among
  their beliefs and make changes when this does not
  occur.
• (Abelson, 1968)
• Attitude change is caused by conflict among
  beliefs.

19
Planned Behavior

• Attitudes influence behavior along with two other
  factors
• - Perceptions of social norms
• - Beliefs about ones personal ability to perform
  a specific behavior.
• (Diclemente and Crosby, 2002)

20
Congruity Theory

• Assumes attitudes are simplistic and tend toward
  extremes (proven false).
• Assumes that if a liked and disliked object
  become related, the feeling toward both will
  become more neutral.
• (Osgood and Tannen, 1960)

21
Creating a Positive Attitude in the Workplace
(Vaccine)

• Lead/teach/support by example-be a new positive
  cure.
• For yourself or others, your voice, both internal
  and external needs to be that of an antibody.
• Dont support or listen to whining (Mount Serat
  example).
• Try to find the positive for everyone.
• Dump the drama-all it does is sell copies (or in
  this case, spread the germ).

22
Creating a Positive Attitude in the Workplace

• Recognize, support and teach quarantine
  procedures (time-out).
• Discourage retro-virus submission (live in the
  now-Alice in Wonderland Analogy).
• Promote anti-viral acknowledgements (list the 10
  best things about working here)
• Take your vitamins (get pumped up).
• Smile and be happy (you did not need a shot).

23
TIPS for Improving Your Own Attitude

• Dont associate with people who have hostile
  attitudes, you might get infected (water and
  vinegar analogy).
• Remember other patients (coworkers).
• Practice optimism and positive self-talk (inner
  voice).
• Dwell on positives.
• Maintain perspectives/choose battles carefully.

24
Tips (cont)

• Give others the benefit of the doubt.
• Become a problem-solver.
• Be alert.
• Utilize self-control.
• Mange stress.
• Stay physically healthy
• Empathize

25
Job Tips

• Look for creative ways to make tasks more
  interesting.
• Try sharing or trading tasks-tedium v. challenge.
• Ask for more responsibilities.
• Adjust your schedule to best mange boredom.
• Look for a alternatives.

26
What Can EAP Counselors Do?

• Educate regarding appropriate attitude
• Teach by coaching, role play
• Provide positive reinforcement
• Help identify triggers to the attitude and help
  with coping skills to combat the situation.

27
What Can You Do?

• 1. First and foremost-be honest with yourself.
• 2. Recognize warning signs (negative thoughts,
  blaming behavior, pessimism).
• 3. Use positive affirmations.
• 4. Visualize your day before it begins.
• 5. Write down your goals.
• 6. Put your head in the game and focus.

28
What Can You Do? (cont)

• 7. Think about a successful person you admire.
• 8. Avoid naysayers who shoot you down.
• 9. Practice, practice, practice.

29
References

• Diclemente, R. J., and Crosby, R.A. (2002) The
  Gale Group Inc., Macmillan Reference USA, New
  York, Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2002.
• www.crmlearning.com Attitude Virus Curing
  Negativity in the Workplace, 1/5/07.
• Brandi, J. (2007). Creating a Positive Employee
  Attitude in the Workplace. The Sideroad.
  Ontario Blue Boulder Internet Publishing.
• Abelson, R. (1968). Theories of Cognitive
  Consistency Theory. Chicago Rand McNally.
• Heider, F. (1959). The Psychology of
  Interpersonal Relations. New York Wiley.
• Hovland, C., Janis, I., Kelley, H. (1953).
  Communication and Persuasion. New Haven, CT
  Yale University Press.
• Triandis, H. (1971). Attitude and Attitude
  Change. New York Wiley.
• De Jager, P. (2005). The Consequence of
  Attitude. www.technobility.com.