How Can I Encourage a Positive Work Attitude Among My Employees? Seeking Your Advice

Hi folks, I'm new in this community. However, I'm impressed with the expert advice that is given on this site for every HR problem. Could you please help me in giving ideas to change my employees' attitude towards their work?

Thank you for your assistance.

Dear Skyla,

Employee attitude is an offshoot of the organization's culture. Shaping the organization's culture is a deliberate effort that requires top management's commitment as well. If you focus solely on fixing employee attitude in isolation, it may prove to be a wild goose chase.

Recently, I conducted a training program titled "Creating a Culture of Business Excellence." During this program, the Managing Director (MD) of the company participated and was present throughout the session. Afterwards, he openly admitted that there were a few things he could have done differently earlier, which he now intends to implement going forward.

As a first step, it is crucial to have strong control over your recruitment process. The second step involves creating a culture that emphasizes performance.

For additional information, please feel free to contact me on my mobile.

Thanks,

Dinesh V. Divekar

Hi Skyla,

Please tell me about your company's product, the type of employees you have, their present attitude, and what you aim to achieve.

Thanks for the post. I too have problems with how to ensure that investments in training will really yield returns. Attitudes drive performance.

I have heard from some consultants I asked that the only way to measure attitude is to pinpoint the measurable behaviors/performance of a particular attitude and measure it from there. Alternatively, before certain training programs, objectives should be clear about what should be measured after the training.

Employee Attitude and Organizational Culture

The very first line, "Employee attitude is an offshoot of the organization's culture," is not agreed upon. The candidate should be screened while being inducted into the company. We should have more ways to check and screen one's attitude. It has something to do with family background, friends' circle, etc.

"You have written that candidates should be screened while being inducted into the company." This screening is part of the recruitment practice, which is in turn part of the organizational culture.

Employee attitudes are shaped by the organization's culture. When employees ask themselves, "What is important here?" they receive a certain answer. They adapt their behavior based on this response. For example, if an employee has previously worked in a highly disciplined organization and then joins a company where discipline is not emphasized, they will adjust to the new environment. The reverse is also true.

Faculty members at hotel management institutes often inform their students that they are future chefs or restaurant managers. They specify that certain behaviors will not be accepted in "X" or "Y" hotel group. Indirectly, what the faculties do is shape their students' attitudes.

Attitudes are also influenced by informal discussions among employees in places like the lunchroom or smoking area. Statements like "Do not do this" or "You can do this" are responses to the organization's culture.

Innovation thrives in many American companies because it is a core value embedded in their culture. While the IQ levels of software engineers may be similar, the lack of companies like Google, Microsoft, or IBM in India is attributed to the failure to establish a similar innovative culture. Mr. Vishal Sikka, the recently appointed CEO of Infosys, is attempting to introduce "design thinking." Is he not changing the organization's culture?

I hope this addresses your query.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

The initial statement "Employee attitude is an offshoot of the organization's culture" is not agreed upon. The candidate should be screened while being inducted into the company. We should explore more ways to assess and screen attitudes. Attitudes are influenced by factors such as family background and friends' circles.

If you have any further questions or need clarification, please let me know.