Bad Workplace Attitudes Lack Purpose
You’ve probably noticed a bad attitude at some point in your life. It may be at work, in the grocery store, or at the red light. Have you noticed bad workplace attitudes?
There are plenty of reasons why someone may be illustrating a bad attitude. Sometimes it is because something happened outside of work and this person is still dragging it around while on the job. In other cases, it may be connected to purpose.
Why Purpose?
Start a conversation about purpose and some people will perk up, but others start looking at their cell phone.
Purpose is critically important and often misunderstood. It is also linked to bad workplace attitudes.
When the junior executive doesn’t understand why she or he must change the verbiage in the quarterly report, an attitude may develop.
What about the staff member that must drop everything and go make copies for the upcoming meeting?
Does a bad attitude emerge when the project that the team pushed for doesn’t make the budget?
All these scenarios and hundreds of other examples are connected to a lack of understanding about purpose. Often purpose is taken for granted. Many people don’t understand the connection.
Changing Bad Workplace Attitudes
People often connect work with reward. The mindset is, “I do some work and I get paid.”
You can do the same thing with your dog. Teach a dog that when she sits, she gets a treat. I love dogs.
People are not dogs.
When you want to give people energy, excitement, and a reason for commitment and hard work. Give them a purpose.
People who understand why the verbiage in the report matters are energized to make the changes. When they understand why the copies will make a difference, they make them.
A project not making the budget is disappointing, but the team remaining intact to launch something new or different can be great!
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
