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Survey Questions: Attitude

Definition: Attitude is the collection of mindsets, behaviors, and choices that shape how individuals engage with work, colleagues, and challenges. It is characterized by optimism, humility, and a respectful, service-oriented tone. A Positive Attitude is demonstrated through open collaboration, emotional steadiness, and a consistent willingness to learn, improve, help others, and seek excellence, even when faced with setbacks or ambiguity. Managers with a strong attitude model pride (in their work and the works of others), embrace accountability and feedback, honor time and relationships, and inspire confidence through resilience, graciousness, flexibility, and trust.
Person Skills
Business Acumen
Accountability
Achievement
Action
Attitude
Bias for Action
Results Oriented
Flexibility
Change
Resourcefulness
Analytical
Initiative
Career Development
Training
Commitment
Engagement
Pride/Loyalty
Professionalism
Respect for Others
Teamwork


Positive Tone
Positive Tone reflects the emotional atmosphere someone actively cultivates within a team or department. It's anchored in optimism, resilience, and a proactive attitude--especially when conditions are difficult or team dynamics are strained. This behavior shows up as sustained enthusiasm, encouragement, and lightness in work relationships, creating an environment that feels energizing and affirming. Leaders and teammates who exhibit a positive tone choose uplifting language, celebrate progress, and help others stay grounded. The impact is mood-related--it shapes how people feel while doing the work, reinforcing enjoyment and cohesion.


Open and Approachable
Open and Approachable centers on interpersonal accessibility and psychological safety. It reflects an attitude of warmth, curiosity, and humility--where individuals invite dialogue, listen without judgment, and welcome feedback across hierarchies. This behavior shows up through consistent presence, receptive body language, and a willingness to engage with all levels of the organization. It builds trust and transparency, encouraging others to speak up, share ideas, or ask for help. While Positive Tone lifts morale through affect, Open and Approachable fosters connection through availability and responsiveness.


Gracious
Gracious reflects a leadership style rooted in dignity, appreciation, and emotional generosity. It emphasizes the art of recognizing contributions (especially subtle or behind-the-scenes efforts) and expressing sincere gratitude in ways that elevate others. This behavior fosters a positive emotional climate through affirming gestures, thoughtful compliments, and consistently pleasant interactions. Leaders who are gracious communicate "You matter" not just through what they say, but how they say it, reinforcing psychological safety through encouragement and professional warmth. The tone is celebratory, focusing on uplifting morale and fostering mutual respect.


Concern for Others
Concern for Others, meanwhile, centers on empathy, attentiveness, and emotional support. It goes deeper into the personal experience of employees, showing care beyond output or performance. This trait is evident in how managers tune into distress, notice unspoken tensions, and extend kindness during emotionally complex moments. It prioritizes human well-being (especially for those who may be struggling) and responds with listening, understanding, and gentle presence. Concern for Others creates a culture where people feel seen and supported, not just valued.


Respectful
Respectful reflects a relational stance rooted in empathy, fairness, and civility. It focuses on how individuals treat others, especially in moments of disagreement, emotional tension, or structural change. Respectful behavior shows up as open listening, thoughtful acknowledgment of different perspectives, and a consistent effort to accommodate varying needs and styles. Leaders who model respect honor boundaries, welcome participation, and avoid condescension or bias. It's about how people relate in the present moment (with sincerity, restraint, and a belief in the dignity of others) creating psychological safety through emotional steadiness and interpersonal grace.


Optimistic
An Optimistic Attitude reflects an outlook of hope, possibility, and belief in success, especially amid uncertainty or challenge. Optimistic behavior includes speaking enthusiastically about goals, celebrating progress even when incomplete, and reinforcing confidence in others' capabilities. Leaders who demonstrate optimism cultivate forward momentum, helping teams see past current obstacles toward what could be achieved. Optimism fuels motivation and vision for what lies ahead--shaping attitude through expectation and aspiration.


Resilient
Resilience reflects an individual's capacity to rebound from adversity with composure and focus. It's about persistence in the face of disruption--responding to challenges not with defeat, but with determination and solution-oriented energy. Resilient individuals and leaders demonstrate emotional steadiness, help teams navigate uncertainty, and maintain forward momentum by reframing setbacks as temporary. The emphasis is on recovery and response: keeping morale high, modeling calm under pressure, and bouncing back quickly to pursue goals despite obstacles.


Learns From Mistakes
Learns From Mistakes focuses on reflection and growth after failure. The defining behaviors include embracing missteps as learning opportunities, fostering open dialogue about errors, and systematically applying lessons to improve future outcomes. Leaders in this space model vulnerability by acknowledging mistakes and transforming them into shared insight. The emphasis here is on continuous improvement--approaching setbacks not just with optimism, but with intellectual curiosity and a commitment to evolving.


Flexibility
Flexibility is about embracing change with emotional steadiness and a solution-oriented mindset. Individuals who display flexibility respond constructively to shifting priorities, unexpected challenges, and revised plans--not with resistance, but with curiosity and optimism. This quality often emerges when external factors disrupt the usual flow, requiring a team or leader to adjust strategies, approaches, or communication styles. Whether it's modifying a project plan, adapting leadership techniques, or welcoming feedback, flexibility signals emotional agility and a willingness to evolve. At its core, it cultivates resilience during transitions and reinforces psychological safety by framing uncertainty as an opportunity, not a threat.


Pride in Work
Pride in Work reflects a deep personal investment in craftsmanship, quality, and values-driven execution. It manifests in the attention to detail, persistence through setbacks, and the willingness to exceed expectations even when no one is watching. Individuals demonstrating pride in work often approach tasks not just as responsibilities, but as reflections of who they are--infusing thoughtfulness, creativity, and accountability into their outputs. This attitude upholds high standards, celebrates progress, and promotes authenticity by encouraging people to "stand behind" their work. Pride energizes a culture of excellence, where the product isn't just complete--it's worthy.


Confidence
Confidence is about energized participation and optimistic forward momentum, especially in uncertain or evolving situations. It shows up in courageous communication, idea-sharing, and initiative-taking; often before outcomes are guaranteed. Confident individuals help reinforce team belief, model possibility, and approach ambiguity with curiosity rather than fear. While pride in work is internally anchored in integrity and effort, confidence leans outward, signaling trust in capability, resilience, and the potential for success. Together, they complement one another: pride ensures substance, confidence provides spark.


Accountability
Accountability within the Attitude dimension centers on ownership, reliability, and integrity. It's marked by individuals following through on commitments, admitting mistakes, and taking proactive steps to resolve issues. The emphasis lies in accepting responsibility without deflection, maintaining consistency in performance, and modeling honest reflection when things go wrong. People with a strong sense of accountability uphold trust by showing that their words and actions carry weight--and they correct course when needed. It's about dependability and self-regulation, ensuring that both personal and team contributions reflect a commitment to results and ethical conduct.


Volunteerism
Volunteerism centers on proactive engagement--stepping forward without prompting to support others, take on additional responsibility, or drive team progress. It reflects a mindset of generosity and growth, where employees seek out ways to contribute beyond their immediate scope, often during peak periods or in unfamiliar areas. Volunteerism also includes leaders modeling initiative by leading new programs, testing tools, or representing their teams in cross-functional groups. Volunteerism originates from internal drive and team-oriented values energizing workplace culture by promoting ownership, collaboration, and a spirit of discretionary effort that amplifies collective success


Helping Others
Helping Others reflects a service-oriented mindset grounded in day-to-day support, emotional attentiveness, and proactive collaboration. It emphasizes removing barriers, offering mentoring and coaching, and seeking ways to assist—especially during moments of challenge or transition. These behaviors center on being available to others in real time, actively asking "How can I help?" and following through with genuine care. This trait focuses on facilitating others' success through encouragement, problem-solving, and responsiveness, driven by empathy and personal initiative.


Excellence
Excellence is driven by aspiration, continuous improvement, and elevated standards. It's not only about meeting expectations, but surpassing them through initiative, personal growth, and thoughtful execution. Individuals who embody excellence are highly engaged in elevating their contributions--often seeking feedback, embracing challenges, and stepping up in demanding situations to ensure high-quality outcomes. Whereas accountability focuses on honoring commitments and owning results, excellence expands that mindset into a pursuit of mastery and impact. It reflects a pride in progress, a hunger to learn, and a dedication to delivering work that’s not just finished—but exceptional.


Willing to Learn
Willing to Learn reflects a mindset of growth-driven curiosity. It's about engaging with new ideas, seeking input across roles and experiences, and using both success and failure as fuel for improvement. Associates who embody this trait are intellectually open and emotionally curious -- they ask thoughtful questions, adopt new methods, and actively integrate feedback into their work. It's forward-looking and adaptive, promoting innovation through teachability and a hunger to improve, often demonstrated by enthusiasm for shared learning and receptivity to new tools, systems, and workflows.


Risk Taking
Risk Taking centers on bold action, intellectual courage, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty for the sake of progress. It encourages team members to contribute unconventional ideas, experiment without fear of imperfection, and take ownership of decisions even when outcomes are uncertain. This behavior champions learning through trial and error, reinforcing confidence, adaptability, and long-term innovation. It's forward-leaning and aspirational -- demonstrating belief in potential over guaranteed success and framing thoughtful risk as essential to advancement.


Respects Time
Respects Time emphasizes discipline, consideration, and shared responsibility for how time is spent. It reflects an appreciation for structure, preparation, and interpersonal awareness -- ensuring that meetings, decisions, and collaborative moments are efficient, focused, and purposeful. Leaders and team members who embody this trait honor time as a resource that belongs to everyone, treating punctuality and preparation as signs of mutual respect.


Humility
Humility is grounded in self-awareness and egoless collaboration. Rather than focusing on personal accolades or authority, employees with this trait elevate others, embrace feedback, and show vulnerability when clarity is needed. It's reflected in how they deflect credit, stay grounded, and promote team value over individual status. Humility reinforces a culture where acknowledgment is broad, hierarchy fades, and relationships remain authentic.


Pride in Others Work
Pride in Others' Work spotlights acknowledgment, recognition, and public appreciation of colleagues' contributions and progress. It's marked by celebrating achievements, giving credit, and expressing confidence in the team's growth—regardless of hierarchy or immediate results. This behavior is more reflective than active, reinforcing shared purpose through visibility, affirmation, and belief in others' potential. Where Helping Others strengthens performance through interpersonal assistance, Pride in Others' Work elevates morale and momentum by honoring the value of each contribution in the broader journey.


Self-Control