12 Aug Where Do Attitudes Come From?
Attitudes are developed in five major ways; a comprehensive understanding of these contributing factors may help you realize your attitude toward experiences and other people.
- Observation: As a very young child, you observed parents, family, and friends working, speaking, and interacting with others. As you observed their behavior, you were developing attitudes that would later shape your behavior in similar situations. Example: You observed your parent’s treatment of the service person who came to fix your refrigerator. You observed their language, tone of voice, and behavior before, during, and after his or her visit.
- Experience: Early in life, you experienced service that shaped your attitude. Rather than just observing, you actually participated in the service experience. Example: You were sent to the store to buy milk and bread. The service treatment you received had an impact on your delivery of service as an adult.
- Teaching: As a child, adults taught you what attitudes were appropriate in given situations. As an adult, you still may be learning attitudes from those around you. Example: Have you heard fellow employees say, “Don’t work so hard, you make the rest of us look bad” or “You can go easy on this part; no one checks up on you”?
- Peers: As a child, you were strongly influenced by the attitudes and behaviors of other children. Peer pressure is a well-documented and accepted contributing factor to the development of attitudes. However, peer pressure is not limited to childhood experiences. The attitudes and behaviors of your peers may also influence adults. Example: Many adults prefer to eat the same foods, wear the same clothes, drive the same cars, and frequent the same places as others because “It’s the thing to do.”
- Personality. At some point in your life, you must accept responsibility for these attitudes. You cannot simply attribute them to childhood happenings. Example: Are you still saying, “But; that’s the way I was brought up” or “We’ve always done it that way”?
22 Apr How Not to Digest the Political Sandwich of Balderdash – Doublespeak – Bullxxxx
Technically speaking, each of these three things is slightly different. Practically speaking, they are all the same in the attempt to confuse, distract, and deceive the reader, listener, buyer, and voter. We all know that each of these verbal tactics is normal behavior for most politicians and slick salespeople. They are prevalent at this time of year—election season.
During this political season, when you are facing several important decisions on issues ranging from birth and abortion to death and war, it is helpful to know how to protect yourself from being manipulated by these B-D-B tactics.
You will vote on issues, items, people, and policies based on one or more of the following things:
1) the known credibility, morals, ethics, or behaviors exhibited by a person or evidence provided.
2) the feelings and emotions that are created by that person or evidence provided.
3) the logic and experience given by that person or the evidence provided.
Your decision to vote, one way or another, will be based on one or more of those three things.
Balderdash, doublespeak, and bullxxxxare all being used frequently and passionately by politicians and others during this season. They are planned, delivered, and repeated in an effort to sway your clear decision-making. When you think about it, you’ll find it challenging to identify any politician or others from any political party or organization who do not use one or more forms of B-D-B.
The most common use of B-D-B is when an issue that requires a logical decision is presented to you wrapped in emotion (sort of a logic sandwich, with the logic encased in the middle and surrounded by a lot of emotion). This is designed to confuse and control your decision-making and voting.
What should you do? Read and listen critically to arguments for or against any issues, items, people, or policies during this election period. Refuse to consume a logic sandwich that comes wrapped in emotion. B-D-B comes wrapped in all kinds of emotion that is delivered with fanfare, folly, fun, pomposity, groupthink, and all sorts of shiny objects.
Enjoy them if you must, but remember they are only the emotional wrappings around the logic. Listen carefully, be curious, and have the courage to ask questions. Make decisions based on your personal assessment of the logic surrounding the issue, item, person, or project. That’s how smart you are.
13 Mar Controlling Nervousness Before Speaking
Whether you call it ’nervousness” or “anxiety’ or “fear of speaking,” it is a widespread experience for many people worldwide; you are not alone. The good news is that it can be controlled. This complimentary lesson will discuss the ‘real causes’ of this experience and some tools and techniques to control the nervousness.
Building & Maintaining Online Relationships
Everyone is in relationships. Whether those relationships are pleasant and productive is based on two distinct factors. In this complimentary lesson we will share the research that gave us this knowledge and how to implement it in your life.
Watch our 30-minute recorded lesson and you will learn:
- To understand the needs of your listeners
- Practical tools to implement in building relationships
- The Human Business Model.
This is a unique opportunity to fine-tune your communication skills. You will learn proven strategies you can put to use immediately with any remote employee or team to keep them focused and productive.
Best Practices in Communication for Managers
Navigating Essential Conversations
This complimentary webinar is designed for those who are either new to the role and responsibilities of management or those who are experienced but looking to review a manager’s most important duties and expectations. The five critical skills needed to be an effective manager of people are covered.
Selling Yourself at a Job Interview
Job interviews can be challenging. Very few people enjoy talking about themselves and find it to be stressful. In addition to having the right skills, you have to get through the job interview. This lesson will share with you a proven best practice for how to ensure that you are being as effective as possible during your interview. (more…)