Work Attitude & Behavior

Experts in the field of organizational behavior, like author Henry Tosi, know that a worker's attitude about her job often affects behavior and performance. Tosi, in his textbook "The Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior," says that infusing a positive attitude into an employee's approach to work pays benefits for everyone, including increased productivity. There are several areas where questions of attitude influence workplace behavior.

Definition

Workplace experts generally define a "positive attitude" in the workplace as a feeling of optimism, pride and satisfaction among employees. Employees who have a negative attitude don't feel these things. These basic employee attitudes play out in the workplace in various positive or negative behaviors.

Productivity

According to workplace expert Stephen Robbins in his book "Organizational Behavior," workers who support and admire the company they work for are more diligent in using time and resources effectively. On the other hand, employees who harbor bad feelings toward their company generally are less motivated to care if they squander time or materials. It's therefore in the interest of companies to both nurture positive attitudes and take precautions against the effects of negative attitudes in the workplace.

Public Representation

N.A. Bowling and T.A. Beehr, in a study published in the "Journal of Vocational Behavior," note that employees who have a positive attitude tend to be much better representatives for a company than employees who have a negative attitude. Sales representatives, recruiters and public relations workers are just a few key positions that virtually require an authentic "belief in the company," to be effective in the field.

Conflict and Stress

Negative attitudes about jobs or co-workers can generate friction that pulls down the productivity of an entire company or department when left unchecked, Robbins says. Employees instilled with positive attitudes tend to avoid such conflicts with co-workers or know how to reduce workplace stress in more general ways, Robbins adds.

Sabotage

Employees who harbor negative attitudes about their job or company can sabotage projects, either consciously or subconsciously, say Bowling and Beehr. A worker who is angry with a boss, for example, can express this anger through various means to get revenge. Deliberately letting mistakes go unchecked or introducing mistakes into a process are just two examples of the types of acts of sabotage that companies must guard against.

Impact on Advancement

Almost all businesses and organizations say that a positive attitude is an important quality, especially for employees destined for advancement. According to Robbins, almost all organizations use attitude as a criterion in job evaluations and promotions. While office "grumps" may rise in the ranks for a while, because of their outstanding skill sets, they eventually hit a ceiling. Eventually, their negative attitude isn't tolerable, Robbins says, and they will stop being promoted.

Impact on Quality of Life

All experts agree that there are few things more important for achieving a good quality of life than job satisfaction. Workers, who have a positive attitude about their company and the role they play within the company, are generally happier than workers who hate their company, loathe their job and feel frustrated and defeated about themselves and their work. Negative attitudes at work can then spill over to family life, causing stress at home. Negative attitudes can also have a direct impact on physical and mental health.

References

• "The Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior"; Henry Tosi and Neal P. Mero; 2003
• "Organizational Behavior (13th Edition)"; Stephen P. Robbins and Timothy A. Judge; 2008
• "Journal of Vocational Behavior"; Beyond Job Satisfaction; N.A. Bowling, T.A. Beehr and L.R. Lepisto; 2006