A Leader’s Attitude

Elisabeth thinks highly of her organization and team members. She is so enthusiastic, and solutions-oriented, that everyone enjoys working with her.

Chris also strongly support his team. He forgets to acknowledge good performance. He immediately reacts to new project requests with doubt and worry.

Attitude: refers to a feeling or state of mind toward something. Attitude can be adjusted at will and made positive or negative.

By habitually focusing on the positive aspects of any situation, and deemphasizing or ignoring the negative, you will reap several important rewards.

Importance Of A Leader’s Attitude It is crucial that you are aware of your attitude, and work at improving it because your attitude has a tremendous effect on your subordinate work performances and attitudes.

Attitude Characteristics Of Leaders Ten examples: 1. Loyalty to the organization; 2. Appreciation to subordinates; 3. Focus on solutions; 4. We-can-do-it approach; 5. Authority with responsibility and accountability; 6. Enthusiasm; 7. Curiosity; 8. Leadership image; 9. Balance of professional and personal life; 10. Integrity.

Loyalty To The Organization Loyal leaders, regardless of their level in an organization, are not complacent when they see threats to their organization, better ways of doing things, or opportunities to question decisions, policies, and procedures.

Appreciation Of Subordinates As a leader, you will have numerous opportunities to show your subordinates just how much you value them and want to act in their best interests, by: - being accessible; - rewarding and fair; - training them; - listening to them; - coaching them; - creating great work environment.

Focus On Solutions Focusing on solving a challenge or making something work better Do not use the causes as a reason to: - blame; - avoid taking action; - become paralyzed with fear.

We-Can-Do-It Approach The positive and competitive winning attitude will go along way in motivating the subordinates to achieve goals. You provide subordinates: - hope; - direction; - persistence; - resources; Demonstrating subordinates that you know anything can be done, and you are determined to do it in the best possible way.

Authority With Responsibility And Accountability Authority: the right that your superiors give you to lead your organization, and fulfill certain responsibilities or expectations of performance.

Enthusiasm Fun to be around. Enjoys leading. Has a high energy level. Ability to act on a great idea.

Curiosity Leaders envision possibilities, and avoid the complacency of the status quo. A natural curiosity of: - the work environment; - people; - industry process; - products; - customers

Curiosity Leaders question subordinates: - jobs; - suggestions; - daily challenges. Difficulties occur, leaders attempt to isolate the origins and resolve with an open-minded approach. Intellectual curiosity is further evidenced: - by reading books; - attending personal development

Leadership Image The image that you present to subordinates, superiors, and peers is vital. The image is affected by several factors, such as: - understand the job; - fulfill job requirements; - solve problems; - get along well in relationships; - react to stressful situations; - communicate. The right image will do wonders for your career advancement within inside company and outside company.

Balance Of Professional And Personal Life Do you ever notice people who get completely absorbed in their work and neglect their families or personal lives?

Integrity Outstanding leaders: have a strong sense of personal integrity. Important components of integrity are: - honesty; - consistent statements of truth; - objective and impartial interpretation of facts

Importance Of Maintaining Your Leader’s Attitude Applying them in your daily life. Leader’s attitude will be challenged several times a day by people, events, and you yourself.

Importance Of Maintaining Your Leader’s Attitude Three simple steps to maintain leader’s attitude: 1. Eliminate the challenge to your attitude. 2. Adjust your attitude. 3. Replenish your attitude.

Importance Of Maintaining Your Leader’s Attitude Eliminate the challenge to your attitude: - identify what conflict is causing you to lose your positivity. - What your reaction will be: --talking about what happened --explain why you made a certain decision

Importance Of Maintaining Your Leader’s Attitude Adjust Your Attitude: - use specific techniques to help retain the positive attitude - focus on your successes - improve your self image - keeping a humorous perspective - important to remember your purpose

Importance Of Maintaining Your Leader’s Attitude Replenish Your Attitude: - establish certain routines that will allow time to relax and think, such as: --reading from a positive book --listening to an inspirational tape --exercising --praying --confiding with a close friend

Job-Specific Skills

Tammy and Mark are co-workers discussing the need for developing each other’s job skills. They feel they need to know more about a certain area of production management if they are to complete a project successfully. How should they proceed?

Job-specific skills: those that are specifically related to your job position, and that must acquire in order to work according to standards. Need to know: - job description (summarize the most important aspects of the job) - job analysis (a detailed mass of data that explores all aspect of the job such as its required skills and responsibilities). - job specification (a summary of the job analysis but provide more detail than the job description)

Importance Of A Strong Skills Foundation You must fully understand the technical aspects of your job, and those of your subordinates and peers. Example: If your intention is to become a great marketing manager, it is imperative that you know as much as you can about marketing.

Skills In Other Areas By making the effort to branch out into unfamiliar department, and to learn new skills, procedures, you will benefit yourself.

Maintain And Improve Your Skills Consider 2 resources: 1. Consult with those experts within and outside organization. 2. Stay up-to-date by reading, attending professional development seminars.