Make Attitude Your Most Valuable Asset:

Change is the Only Constant

Joann L. Spaleta, MBA, MHA, MT (ASCP)Charlotte Area Health Education Center

AHEC Director, Regional Education

Joann L. Spaleta, MBA, MHA, MT (ASCP)Charlotte Area Health Education Center

AHEC Director, Regional Education

Objectives

• Define attitude and the impact on Individuals

• Discuss the “make-up” of attitude

• Discuss obstacles to a positive attitude

• Explore strategies for developing a positive attitude

What is Attitude?

Definitions• Point of view about a

situation • Inward feeling expressed by

outward behavior

Three components of attitude

• What you feel

• What you think

• What you do

Attitude

• As an individual, your attitude has a profound impact on your life

• A person’s attitude impacts relationships, changes their view of failure, and defines their approach to success

• Attitude is not everything, but it is one thing that can make a difference

Your Your attitude attitude

can can change change every every

aspect of aspect of your life. your life.

It is like It is like the mind’s the mind’s paintbrushpaintbrush

..

Attitude Impacts Individuals

1. Attitude has the power to lift up or tear down.

2. An attitude changes when exposed to others.

3. Bad attitudes cause reaction faster than good ones.

4. Attitudes are subjective.

5. Bad attitudes unattended, ruin everything.

AttitudeAttitude is always is always a player a player

onon your your team.team.

AttitudeAttitude is always is always a player a player

onon your your team.team.

Five Realities about AttitudeFive Realities about Attitude

Attitude Impacts An Individual

1. Our attitude determines our approach to life.

2. Our attitude determines our relationships with others.

3. In many situations, our attitude is the only difference between success and failure.

4. Our attitude at the beginning of the task will affect the outcomes.

5. Our attitude can turn our problems into blessings.

6. Our attitude can give us a positive perspective.

Attitude Attitude determinedetermines success s success

or or failure.failure.

Attitude Attitude determinedetermines success s success

or or failure.failure.

Changing Attitudes

•Attitude is not permanent state, it cancan be changed

•You have to want to change… change is constant

•ChangeChange is a choice in any situation

Note:Note:

Only if you Only if you want to want to change it.change it.

Note:Note:

Only if you Only if you want to want to change it.change it.

Conditions

Choices

As time goes by, choices increase.

Choosing a Positive Attitude

1. Evaluate your present attitude.

2. Take responsibility for your attitude.

3. Write a statement of purpose.

4. Have the desire to make a change.

5. Live each day…one day at a time.

6. Change your thought patterns.

7. Develop good habits and choices.

8. Choose to have a “right” attitude.

Choices

Choice One:Choice One: Evaluate Your Present Attitude

• Identify your problem feelings and behaviors

• Identify problem thinking

• Clarify truth

• Secure commitment

• Plan and carry out your choice

Choices

Choice Two:Choice Two: Take Responsibility for Your

Attitude

• Lives can be changed by changing your attitude

• Change depends on your state of mind

• Believe that you can change and you will

Choices

Choice Three:Choice Three: Write a Statement of Purpose

1. Write specifically what you desire to accomplish each day.

2. Verbalize to an encouraging friend what you want to accomplish each day.

3. Take action on your goal each day.4. Have the desire to change.5. Live one day at a time.6. Change your thought patterns.7. Develop good habits and choices.8. Continually choose to have a positive

attitude.

Choices

Choice Four:Choice Four: Have the Desire to Make a Change The desire to change will lead us in the right direction.

Choice Five:Choice Five: Live Each Day…One Day at a TimeLive for today and do not worry about yesterday or tomorrow.

Choice Six:Choice Six: Change Thought Patterns We are where we are and what we are because of the thoughts that occupy our minds.

Fall in love Fall in love with the with the

challenge to challenge to change change

and and

watch the watch the desire to desire to change change grow.grow.

Fall in love Fall in love with the with the

challenge to challenge to change change

and and

watch the watch the desire to desire to change change grow.grow.

Choices

• An attitude is a habit of thought

• Habits are acquired actions or reactions

• If habits are hurtful, they negatively impact our attitudes as well as others

• Break the cycle by cultivating positive thoughts and developing good habits and choices

WrongWrong ActionsActions

WrongWrong DecisionsDecisions

Negative Negative BeliefsBeliefs

Continual Continual ActionsActions

Bad Bad HabitsHabits

Negative Negative ThoughtsThoughts

Choice Seven:Choice Seven: Develop Good Habits & Choices

Choices

Choice Eight: Choice Eight: Choose to Have a Right Attitude

•Attitudes have a tendency to revert back to their original patterns, if they are not nurtured and developed.

•You can make your attitude what you want it to be. You determine what you will think and how you will act.

Obstacles Enhance Attitude

• Make failure a regular part of your life

• Fail early, fail often, fail forward

• How we handle change makes us stronger and teaches us perseverance

The greatest battle you wage The greatest battle you wage against failure occurs on the against failure occurs on the

inside, not on the outside.inside, not on the outside.

The greatest battle you wage The greatest battle you wage against failure occurs on the against failure occurs on the

inside, not on the outside.inside, not on the outside.

Top Five Obstacles

• Discouragement

• Change

• Problems

• Fear

• Failure

Dealing with Discouragement

• Get the right perspective

• See the right people

• Say the right words

• Have the right expectations

• Make the right decisions

““Ninety Ninety percent of percent of those who those who

fail are not fail are not actually actually

defeated. defeated. They simply They simply

quit.”quit.”

- Paul J. - Paul J. MeyerMeyer

““Ninety Ninety percent of percent of those who those who

fail are not fail are not actually actually

defeated. defeated. They simply They simply

quit.”quit.”

- Paul J. - Paul J. MeyerMeyer

People Resist Change Because …

• Personal loss

• Fear of the unknown

• Timing could be wrong

• It feels awkward

• TraditionIf change If change does not does not cost you cost you

anything, anything, then it is then it is not real not real change.change.

If change If change does not does not cost you cost you

anything, anything, then it is then it is not real not real change.change.

Problems

• Everybody has problems…they just may not be your problems

• Our perspective on the problem, not the problem itself, determines success or failure of when solving the problem

• Problem recognition versus problem solving

• Responding to problems correctly, can propel us forward

Destructive Power of Fear

• Breeds more fear

• Causes us to be inactive and not move

• Makes us weak

• Wastes energy

• Destroys productivity

• Keeps us and others from reaching personal potential

Benefit from Failure

• Change your attitude

• Change your vocabulary

• Disregard the negative talk of others

• Let failure point you to success

• Keep your sense of humor

• Learn from your mistakes…we all make them

• Use failure as a gauge for growth

• NeverNever give up

Benefits of Adversity

1. Creates resilience

2. Develops maturity…make us stronger

3. Pushes the envelope of accepted performance

4. Provides greater opportunities

5. Promotes creativity and innovation

6. Brings unexpected results

7. Motivates others and ourselves

The Future with the Right Attitude

FailureFailure may be defined:

• Failing to perform a duty or expected action

• Lack of success

• Falling short of expectations

• Giving way under stress

• Not moving forward when changes occur

“Failing

Forward”

Seven Abilities Needed to “Fail Forward”

1. Reject failure

2. Failure is temporary

3. See failures as isolated incidents

4. Keep expectations realistic

5. Focus on strengths…not weaknesses

6. Vary your approach to success

7. Be resilient…bounce back

The Ingredients to Success

SuccessSuccess is…

Knowing your purpose in life

Growing to reach your maximum potential

Sowing seeds that benefit others

Success Success is ais a Journey: Journey:

• The “Right Attitude” toward change

• The “Right Principles” for getting there

• The “Right Choices” when making decisions

Know Your Purpose

Ask yourself these questions:

• What am I searching for?

• Why am I here?

• Do I believe in my potential?

• When do I start?

Growing to Your Potential

1. Concentrate on one main goal.

2. Continually improve.

3. Forget the past.

4. Live in the present.

5. Focus on the future.

Sowing Seeds That Benefit Others

We make a living by what we get;

but we make a life by what we give.

1. Possess the right view of success, no matter what circumstances you are in.

2. Help people succeed with a can-do attitude.

3. Be your authentic self…others are looking at you as a role model.

Top 10 Tips “How to Have a Positive

Attitude”1. Take ownership of your attitude.2. Take action to eliminate what

bothers you.3. Live in the present.4. Let go of things that do not matter.5. Be non-judgmental.6. Listen to yourself and trust what you

hear.7. Live your values.8. Have fun and enjoy humor.9. Invest energy in the people who you

love and care about.10.Develop an attitude of caring and

love. - Unknown Author