Dealing with an 'attitude'

WHETHER in school or college or at the workplace the problems posed by a `bad' attitude are real and ever-present. Professional circles abound with tales of persons having an attitude problem, and sooner or later we are bound to meet and interact with such people. It is not uncommon to come across a person with a chip on his shoulder, one who takes delight in flaunting his abilities and looking down on all and sundry. When negative attitudes rear their ugly head at the workplace, there are a few ways to rectify them.

I, me, myself

Suresh was a person who had an air about him. At meetings and discussions his colleagues couldn't get a word in edgeways, as Suresh thought he was an authority on everything under the sun! Negative vibes from others didn't bother him. He was cocky and abrasive even in his personal interactions bringing in an air of discomfort, which made the whole team uneasy. He was a difficult person to get along with.

Inside stuff

The first thing that snaps when you `acquire' an attitude is communication. The person with the attitude feels that he has the right to say whatever he wants to and get away with it. Rude comments, garbled responses, and withholding important information often accompany the I-don't-care-attitude.

This attitude is most likely to be cultivated when a person has experienced a recent success, or been vested with a greater amount of authority. Such a person should be made aware that in today's flat hierarchical structures, power isn't everything- what you do with it is what matters!

What is the best thing to do when an associate has an attitude problem?

Analyse the root cause of the problem. Is the negative behaviour a result of insecurity, bad experiences, an indulgent upbringing, a recent success, or simply a bloated ego? Once the cause of the problem is ascertained, the solution becomes so much easier to work out. However it should be handled with a lot of tact.

First, try to get a chance to talk openly with the person. Get him to listen to you. Give suggestions and emphasise why you strongly feel he cannot get by behaving the way he is. Draw attention to how he can improve rather than merely highlighting his shortcomings.

There are times when the person may be unapproachable. At such times, it is best that a superior or a senior is made aware of the matter.

Turnaround tips

Here's what a person with an attitude problem can do to bring about a change-

Listen, accept and be communicative

Acknowledge people. Try politeness and diplomacy especially in interactions and conversations.

Cut out sarcastic talk and acrid remarks.

Take hints from colleagues who might be trying help.

The attitude problem is injurious.

Issues like caste, culture and language that may have contributed to the attitude problem can seriously affect some other members of the team.

Working towards creating a common and distinct team culture should assume importance then.

How can you be sure that you don't suffer from the attitude problem yourself?

A fair amount of stocktaking on a regular basis would help set the record straight.

Take a pen and paper, and list the things you are proud of. Go over each of the points to see if these issues are affecting your workplace relationships negatively.

If you think you are harping about a particular strength too much, tone it down.

A balanced view of oneself is therefore necessary to keep from being condescending.

You can get away with a bad attitude if you are a lone worker.

However, most jobs demand some amount of teamwork. Therefore a negative attitude should be eliminated to improve individual and team performance.

ARCHANA JAYAKAR

archana.hyd@cnkonline.com