Management Fundamentals 5th Edition by Robert Lussier

Exercise 29

Objective
To develop a plan for improving your personality.
Skills
The primary skills developed through this exercise are
:
1. Management skill - interpersonal (personal motivation)
2. AACSB competency - reflective thinking skills
3. Management function - leading
We can all improve certain aspects of our personalities. Review your responses to the Self-Assessment Personality Profile (page 288). Of the traits listed, choose one you'd like to work on improving, as a way of increasing your job performance and satisfaction. For example, suppose you decided that you needed to develop a more optimistic and positive attitude and that to do so you would work on thinking and talking more positively. You might write the following specific steps for accomplishing your plan:
• I will write a list of everything that I like about my current job and, for a month, I will reread the list every Monday morning before I leave for work.
• I will be aware of what I say and will focus on the positive rather than the negative. I will tell myself, for example, "I'm getting a lot done today" rather than "I'll never meet this deadline," or "I plan to do well on this six-month evaluation" rather than "My supervisor is going to be watching every move I make that day."
• If I do find myself saying something negative to myself or to someone else, I will immediately stop and rephrase the statement.
• I will let friends and coworkers know that I am working on being more positive and ask for their help. I will ask them not only to point out when I'm being negative but also to reinforce me when they observe a more positive attitude from me.
Identify the trait from the Self-Assessment that you would like to work on, and list the specific steps you will take to improve it.
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Zig Ziglar recommends that if you want to be more positive about your situation (at work, in school, in your family, in a romantic relationship, etc.), you need to focus on the good side, not dwell on the negative. To do so, write out a list of everything you like about the situation. Then write down some positive affirmations, such as "I have a positive attitude"; "I enjoy my job"; "I like Fred." Every morning and evening, while looking in the mirror, read your list. You may also record your list and play it. Do this for a month and you and others will see a changed, more positive personality.
Here are some specific steps you might list for yourself if you wanted to develop a more extraverted personality:
• I will say hi to people before they say hi to me.
• I will attend a party at which I don't know many people, and I will approach people first to talk to them.
• I will go to class early (or stay after class) once a week and approach someone I don't know, or don't know well, and talk to that person for a few minutes before (or after) class.
You can also follow Zig Ziglar's recommendation and write a positive affirmation for yourself, such as "I enjoy meeting new people."