DR EMMANUEL MOORE ABOLO, Chief Risk & Compliance OfficerNigerian Export-Import BankABUJA

April 15, 2013

Attitude Videos Quotable Quotes What is Attitude? Good Attitude Vs Bad Attitude Impact of a Positive Attitude in the

Workplace Building Positive Attitudes Maintaining a Professional Attitude at Work Maintaining a Positive Relationship With Your

Teammates Conclusion

Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life.

Joel Osteen  There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big diff

erence. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.

W. Clement Stone  Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freed

oms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.

Viktor E. Frankl  Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his

goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.

Thomas Jefferson Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.Winston Churchill A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.

Wade Boggs 

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

Raymond Chandler Having a positive mental attitude is asking how something can be done rather than saying it can't be done.

Bo Bennett The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them.Antoine de Saint-Exupery 

Attitude determines the altitude of life.Edwin Louis Cole The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind.

James Truslow Adams Happiness doesn't depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.Dale Carnegie You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.

Brian Tracy A healthy attitude is contagious but don't wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.Tom Stoppard We cannot change our past. We can not change the fact that people act in a certain way. We can not change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.Charles R. Swindoll Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.Charles R. Swindoll 

An attitude is:

"a relatively enduring organization of beliefs, feelings, and behavioral tendencies towards socially significant objects, groups, events or symbols" (Hogg & Vaughan 2005, p. 150)

"..a psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a particular entity with some degree of favor or disfavor" (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993, p. 1)

Structure of Attitude

Attitude structure can be described in terms of three components [ABC]:

Affective component: this involves a person’s feelings / emotions about the attitude object. For example: “I am scared of lions”.

Behavioral (or conative) component: the way the attitude we have influences how we act or behave. For example: “I will avoid lions and scream if I see one”.

Cognitive component: this involves a person’s belief / knowledge about an attitude object. For example: “I believe lions are dangerous”.

Good attitudes involve considering all situations in a positive light and taking the best out of what occurs in life. Those with bad attitudes do the opposite, looking at situations and occurrences negatively.

Potential People with good attitudes are more likely to try to do something better and realize

their full potential because they believe that they can achieve their goals. People with bad attitudes often assume they will fail.

Health Good attitudes lead to better overall health, both physically and mentally. Those

with bad attitudes endure more stress and often suffer complications from it.Social

Those with good attitudes are more likely to be outgoing and social, and those with bad attitudes are often more withdrawn because they do not feel they will be socially accepted.

Influence Attitudes often influence others. People who surround themselves with good

attitudes are more likely to think positively, but those who surround themselves with bad attitudes are more likely to think negatively.

ChangePeople with bad attitudes can turn around their outlook by addressing the origin of their negativity. Locating the cause of a bad attitude can go a long way in helping turn it into a good attitude.

Positive attitude goes a long way in the workplace. Everyone has a bad day once in a while, but trying to maintain a positive attitude at work does have its advantages.Production

Create a more pleasing, comfortable workplace environment for everyone. Happy workers often lead to a more productive and profitable business, suggests the National Resource Center (NRC)--part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Prevent Negativity Be positive to avoid overemphasizing the negative. The NRC compares

negativity to a virus that spreads misery throughout the office. Constant negativity leads to unmotivated workers, lateness, high job turnover, absences, unsatisfied customers, accidents, mistakes and sickness.

Lower Stress Use positivity to lower stress levels. Manatee Glens--a nonprofit mental health

organization--notes that too much stress leads to early burnout and poor health. Negative work attitudes are often brought home. A positive attitude is a great stress reliever.

Job Interviews Exude positivity during a job interview. The Georgia Department of Labor

estimates at least 40% of applicants are not hired because of bad manners, attitudes and poor appearance. A positive, uplifting attitude brings you closer to employment and may get you that promotion.

Building a positive attitude is mostly a mental game, but there are physical components, as well. Positive thinking isn't something that happens overnight, and takes time to really settle into the mind and body. However, the process is fascinating, and little glimpses of improvement happen almost instantly, once someone decides to become more positive. By starting on the positivity path and staying focused, you'll evolve into a more accepting, optimistic person.

Cultivate gratitude in daily life. Gratitude brings great joy for what you have, as well as excitement for what's coming. In return, you become more receptive toward happy, uplifting things. Start your day with gratitude by taking five minutes in the morning to write down things that you're grateful for. Fill up as many pages as you'd like with whatever comes to mind; there are no limits. After a while, there will be the realization that you are grateful for practically everything.

Accept life and reality in all of its randomness. Life isn't something that can be planned or lived in a linear fashion. An acceptance of chaos is necessary in order to bounce back and accept mistakes for the small speed bumps they are. Life is very random; don't expect all-around perfection from yourself or others.

Clean out clutter from your living space. Keeping remnants of old, unhappy or awkward times may seem loyal, but it's not healthy or positive in some instances. There has to be a place for all of the joyous new stuff to enter, and it will have no place to sit if baggage takes up emotional and physical space. Make a weekend of cleaning out old things by inviting over trusted friends to help, and treat the passing of past mementos as a ritual that may be painful but necessary.

Volunteer and find a way to contribute to society at large. By giving of yourself, whether it be a couple of hours or several months, it becomes apparent that your good actions make a difference. Volunteering pulls a person out of the morass of their own problems into the realm of helping someone else, with little or no expectation of recompense. It's especially wonderful to know that your labor can keep a family warm in a new house, fill a child's stomach, or earn a struggling student a much-needed scholarship.

Believe in a power higher than yourself, whether it be the power of science, God, or another being. An overreaching belief system serves as a comfort to many, and can also bring the benefit of community in the form of a group of like-minded followers. A higher power doesn't necessarily have to be religious in nature; however, it will serve to keep a sense of wonder and uncertainty in daily living that is conducive to creativity.

Get enough sleep. It's hard to overcome challenges if you're yawning every five minutes. Lack of sleep can lead to poor health, reduced sexual drive and irritability, which won't do much to help a pessimistic outlook. According to Purica, a holistic healing product producer, "Sleep is absolutely essential to improve and maintain energy levels, immune system effectiveness, mental and emotional clarity and overall quality of life. When you feel good, you function better.“

Give up the need to be attached. People become attached, or fixated on, outcomes to situations and people that they have no control over, and become disappointed on a deep level if things don't work out. Instead, accept that things might not work out at all, and be accepting of that fact. Be OK with releasing upsets, acknowledging the pain and moving on. Non-attachment doesn't mean a lack of meaningful bonds; rather, it's the allowance that others are autonomous, and that their choices are their own to make and live with. Appreciate them for the value they offer, and know the limits of that.

Don't get overwhelmed; stay professional at work. Maintaining a professional attitude at work can be difficult. Your job takes up the majority of your weekday waking hours, and it is important to keep a positive and respectful demeanor at all times in your workplace. However, sometimes certain situations or aspects of your personal life can get in the way of having the right attitude. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to remain professional at all times.

Arrive at work on time. In fact, whenever possible, you should arrive at least five minutes early.Dress appropriately for your job. Try to emulate the workplace style of the higher-ups in the company.Show respect and graciousness to your boss and to your coworkers at all times. People will remember it and return the favor.Offer to take on extra responsibilities whenever you are sure you'll be able to handle the extra work.Demonstrate sincerity. Being a fake will hurt you both professionally and socially.Keep confidentiality. Your loyalty and ability to keep a secret will be valued greatly by both your coworkers and your superiors.Keep your workplace in your workplace and your home life at home: no personal emails or phone calls unless you're on your break.

Maintaining a positive relationship with teammates adds inspiration to the workplace. Work is often demanding, and the challenges of deadlines and group projects make tasks harder. Finding a balance with teammates is a wise way to complement each others' strengths and weaknesses. Once that balance is discovered, the challenges and demands of work become welcome additions. Positive relationships result in successful partnerships, and giving your all with teammates can boost the entire workplace.Recognize the efforts of your teammates. Tell each one how much you value his or her work. Be specific in your comments about what each colleague adds to the team. Maintain a pattern of daily recognition to keep your teammates in good spirits.Encourage teammates with positive language. Use affirmative statements and avoid pointing out the negative. Stay optimistic in your constructive criticism and always end conversations on a positive note. Inspire teammates by pointing out their individual talents, creativity and courage.Create realistic goals. Set a plan of action and a timeline with your team that is achievable. Keep emotions up at all times and stay focused. Brainstorm on problems together and find agreements on solutions to ensure the team remains concentrated on the same objectives.Take ownership of your work. Fess up to mistakes and point out ways you can improve. Keep self-criticism accurate and healthy. Prepare for all meetings and add input when necessary. Avoid getting down on yourself to draw down the emotions and energy of your team. Acknowledge personal success but do not indulge in self-congratulation. Remain focused on the work of your fellow teammates at all times.Share success with each other. Reward group members with appropriate affirmations and gifts. Take time to get to know each of your teammates personally to deepen connections. Schedule group lunches or dinners, for example, to share in positive events that are not work related, but enhance the fullness of your relationships. Move on swiftly from project failures and keep one another motivated with the previous steps.

Respect co-workers to maintain effective relationships…STAY

POSITIVEAnd

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