Personal Development
You Can't Teach Attitude
By Brian Ward
Jul 1, 2008 - 8:35:14 PM

We all hold attitudes. These attitudes shape how we approach every situation we encounter, and in large part shape our responses towards those situations, and therefore shape our lives.

Yet most of us are unaware of these attitudes. If I were to ask you what your attitudes were to the following, could you provide a crisp answer?

Here goes. What is your attitude towards:

• Women in leadership?
• Your job?
• Your spouse?
• Your contribution to a better world?
• Your success (or failure) so far in life?
• Children (especially yours if you have any)?
• The company you work for?
• Your boss?
• Your colleagues?
• Work/Life balance?
• Having fun?
• Pursuing happiness?

You can't be taught any of these attitudes. You have to form them yourself. And your attitudes are informed by your beliefs and values. You can't be taught those either.

Yet most of these attitudes operate under the surface, unknown to us until someone questions them. Have you ever been told that your 'attitude stinks!' or you need an 'attitude adjustment'?

In one of the programs we run (NOT a training program), titled Adventures in Attitudes, participants go through a series of exercises where they rediscover their attitudes, gain insights into them and how they have helped or hindered them in work and life, and make commitments to change them.

The results are often astounding.

Everyone needs to take time out to re-examine their attitudes and discover what works for them and what doesn't.

Attitude is everything.