Today’s episode is in response to a question that I got as a result of a recent blog post I wrote on coaching to attitude. The question: Isn’t attitude a form of behavior?
When I get this question, my answer always starts with another question: “What are they actually doing, what is their behavior?” And I ask this question to help people see the truth. Watch this short video to learn what I mean.
You can’t coach attitude, but you CAN coach the behaviors that lead to the changed (and the perception of the changed) attitude.
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And now I’d love to hear from you…
How do you create a clear set of behavioral expectations? Leave a comment below and until next time, remember…
You are Remarkable!
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Great ideas Kevin, and yes I do believe attitude is a behavior and can be coached, but you have to, as you stated, identify the behavior for the other party, now they can choose to change based on new awareness.
Now take it a bit further and gain insight into what beliefs the other party holds that cause that behavior/attitude. If you can impact the belief the behavior/attitude disappears permanently..
keep up the good work:)
Thanks for the comment Harlan – and yes beliefs are underneath and a driving force – just more than I could handle in a 4 minute video!
Kevin 🙂
Attitude change with experiences. Setup experiences to align attitudes with success.
Your behaviors cause responses. Did you think rationally and then respond?
Does your current responses work for you? Is it in your best interest?
I’m pretty sure you mean “infer” instead of “imply” in your tweet. Not to miss your point….. good thoughts on coaching to the behavior instead of the attitude one infers.
David – you are right – infer would be much clearer.
Kevin 🙂
In my experience, “Attitude” is often a word used to describe a behaviour and, since behaviours are mostly triggered by beliefs and values, my question is “What is it that’s true to this person that drives this behaviour?”
I agree that you have to coach behaviors. In my discussions with leaders about attitude, I tell them that one’s attitude is nothing more than the choices they make in a given situation. These choices are held up against the group’s rules, norms, or mores. If the choice is in alignment with them, the person has a “good attitude”. If the choice is not in alignment with them, the person has a “bad attitude”.
Sometimes the “perpetrator” doesn’t even know that their choice/behavior constitutes a “bad attitude”. This is because they didn’t even know what the rules were in the first place! If that’s the case, then the emphasis needs to shift back to the leader to make sure this person knows what’s expected of them in that situation. Bottom line here? Sometimes a person with a “bad attitude” is the by-product of a bad leader (or at least a poor communicator).
On the other hand, if the “bad attitude” choice is made intentionally and knowingly against expected behavior, NOW the leader has to coach.