Page 66 - Becoming a Successful Manager

An attitude is a state of mind and a predisposition to
actions based on what you tell yourself.

Attitudes precede actions; positive attitudes lead to
productive actions; negative attitudes lead to unproductive

actions. Adopt and encourage positive attitudes.

6

Adopting Positive and

Productive Attitudes

LET’SSAYYOU’VE BEEN INVITED to a meeting which you really don’t
want to go to but for obligatory reasons you must attend. You don’t
have a choice of whether or not to accept the invitation, but you
can choose your attitude regarding it.
By attitude, we mean a state of mind—an emotional and intellec-
tual inclination—and a predisposition to actions based on what you tell
yourself. In the case of the meeting, if you were to choose a negative
attitude, you would not participate and would make sure the meeting is
not valuable or productive for you. That’s because you would tell your-
self, “I really don’t want to go to this meeting because I know nothing
will change and they will ask for my input and ignore it anyway.”

57