Photo of the flying Wallendas trapeze act. Attitude: The "Wallenda Factor"

Learning Objectives

Understand the relationship between your attitude, beliefs and behaviors.

Learn about the "Wallenda Factor" and how self-fulfilling prophecy effects outcomes.
Reflect on your personal attitude and approach toward work.
Reflect on the impact of your conversations with employees.

Attitude & Management: Context

What does attitude have to do with managing? After all, you can't manage attitudes; people are responsible for their own disposition. Even during trying times, people ultimately make the choice of how they will act.

As a supervisor, you will assess employee performance and make judgments on employee behavior, but not attitude per se. Yet, a person's attitude is what directly influences his approach to work and impacts the effectiveness of those around him.

Let's say you had the option to either work with a person who has a great attitude with average talent, or with a person who has incredible talent, but whose attitude is suspect. Who would you pick? Most people will choose the person who has the terrific attitude and will be most productive in that option.

So you see, attitude does make a difference in the overall effectiveness of you and your employees. This online training program will help you gain a better understanding of the impact of attitude along with provide tools and strategies to manage well.

Attitude Adjustment Scale: A Self Assessment Tool

Taken from "Attitude: Your Most Priceless Possession" by Elwood N. Chapman.

Instructions: Circle the number below that fits you. A 10 indicates your attitude is great; a 1 indicates it could not be worse. This is only for yourself and you will have an option to print the assessment when completed.

Low -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- High
1 If I were to guess, my feeling is that my boss would currently rate my attitude as a:
2 Given the same chance, my co-workers and family would rate my attitude as:
3 Realistically, I would rate my attitude as a:
4 In dealing with others, I believe my effectiveness would rate at a:
5 My current creativity level is rated as a:
6 If there were a meter, my sense of humor rates close to a:
7 My recent disposition - the patience and sensitivity I show to others - deserves a:
8 When it comes to not allowing little things to bother me, I deserve a:
9 Based upon the number of compliments I have received lately, I deserve a:
10 My enthusiasm towards my job and life during the past few weeks rates as a:
What insights have you gained based on your self-assessment?