Attitudes are the very essence of
an individual’s relative success or failure on a human relationship basis. In
most cases, someone with a bad attitude will struggle much
harder for success at almost every level than someone with a good
attitude. That being the case, we must understand what an attitude is,
how it manifests itself and how others may perceive it.
One dictionary definition of an attitude is this: “A complex mental state
involving beliefs, feelings, values and dispositions to act in certain ways.”
Or put another way, an attitude is the way
we exhibit our feelings and concerns about something we strongly believe
in. The issue is not so much the fact
that we have strong feelings about certain things. The problem is that when we
feel challenged, we might react in a way that is repugnant to others, causing
them to react negatively to us. Most of us have a bad attitude from time to
time. However, when we maintain an attitude that others find socially or
emotionally unacceptable, our attitude becomes our personal brand. At that point, we become THAT person...” the one with the perennially
bad attitude”.
When individuals begin to say things about us such as, “I don’t like
his attitude” or “she is a good worker but she has a bad attitude,” the time
has come for us to consider whether our attitude is working for us or if,
perhaps we should consider changing it.
Many of us hang on to bad attitudes as a defense mechanism. Just as some people are known for a loud
laugh or a quick temper, others are known for a bad attitude. Just as those
people who laugh too loud when they find something funny or get angry immediately
that they feel threatened, others exhibit a distant, dark, unfriendly or aloof
attitude when a certain stimulus invades their mind. When those unapproachable,
standoffish or superior people are faced with a situation that makes them
uncomfortable they immediately adopt their well-nurtured attitude in order to
avoid the situation or to repel those who might make them even more
uncomfortable.
Most people with bad attitudes are not truly bad human beings. They are simply people who have trouble
reacting in a universally palatable manner in some situations. When faced with
an uncomfortable situation, the area of the brain that controls the neural
pathways that form external responses in these people sets up an irresistible need
to exhibit an outward presentation that will protect them from harm. So deeply
are these responses ingrained in the minds of these people that without even
thinking, they will almost automatically exhibit a bad attitude whenever they sense
or expect discomfort. They have little or no control at that point and the only
way that they will ever be able to overcome their bad attitude response is
through deliberate and consistent self-awareness and self-actualization. They
will need to retrain their brains to allow a better response; (a good attitude).
The bad attitude response might be a result of past situations that the
person found negative and emotionally hurtful. They might often find themselves
thinking negative self-talk.
Some of that self-talk might include thoughts such as, “I am not good enough; I can’t do this; they don’t like me, they don’t
respect me; I don’t want to be here,” or any number of other things
that people feel when put into situations where they might lack confidence.
When the bad attitude has been part of their behaviour make-up for a very long
time, they will no longer need to experience the negative self talk in order to
respond negatively. The situation alone will be adequate to set off the
negative behaviour response.
Negative attitudes can also be triggered by fear, hatred, envy,
jealousy, distrust and a myriad of other stimuli. Those attitudes however, are usually
confined to a specific source of discomfort and only rear their heads
when an individual encounters something that they immediately find truly
distasteful, frightening or unacceptable. Many people often exhibit a very good
attitude most of the time and only show a bad attitude when confronted with an
unusually unnerving situation.
Those people who have a generally bad attitude and want to do something
about it must firstly accept that their attitude is impacting those around them
and that it is harming their personal growth and development in one way or
another. Many people spend a good deal of time thinking and saying things like,
“I don’t need anyone else; You don’t
have to like me to work with me; As long as I do my job my attitude shouldn’t
matter,” and various other ideas that justify their negative attitudes.
Before any improvement can begin, those people must accept that a huge part of every
good work or personal relationship is a compatible, flexible and generally
acceptable attitude.
When a person has finally come to the conclusion that they need to
change their attitude, they must accept that it might take hard work and that
it will not happen overnight.
They should consult with those around them in order to find out what it is
about them that others do not like. They should ask co-workers, bosses, friends
and family members how they truly are perceived and then listen to the responses
without interruption. They need to keep an open mind and allow their ego’s to
take a back seat as they hear some potentially very hurtful information about
themselves. Only people who genuinely want to change will make it past this
step.
If they make it past the ego-damaging last step, they must make a commitment
to themselves to do something else. Essentially, when they feel their brain
telling them to react in a negative fashion, they need to do the opposite.
Instead of frowning, they need to smile. Instead of whining they need to cheer.
Instead of being aloof they need to show engagement. These changes in
presentation and thought seldom happen immediately, but when a person makes a decision
to improve and works hard at it, success and happiness usually follow shortly
thereafter.
Do you have a bad attitude? Do something
about it now!
Do you know someone with a bad attitude?
Do something about it, by talking to
them and letting them know that you are there to listen and help in any way you
can.
Attitude Matters!
All the Best
Wayne Kehl
