The Keys to a Constructive Attitude

Communication & FeedbackTeamwork & CooperationAll employees≈ 20 min

Key skill: Cooperation

Summary

Build a constructive attitude at work by lifting three blockers — criticism, confirmation bias, justification — and activating four levers to move from “if” to “how” and turn the impossible into the possible.

Target audience

Anyone looking to promote a positive mode of communication and collaboration

Learning objectives

Avoid the blockers to a constructive attitude: criticism, confirmation bias, and justification.
Stop complaining and steer clear of complainers: turn criticism into constructive proposals
Open up to and learn from diverse perspectives to escape confirmation bias.
Wait to be asked and own what you've done, rather than justifying yourself.

Module outline

StorytellingAn exploration of the balance between optimism and realism, comparing American and French approaches
ArticlesGoodbye to complainers · “Turning a complainer around” and “Distancing yourself from a complainer” · Best practices for a constructive attitude
Expert videoThe 3 blockers to avoid (criticism, confirmation bias, and justification) and the 4 positive levers of a constructive attitude
AnchoringA quiz and True/False questions to explore the topic further and anchor what you've learned
Memo cardA downloadable memo card: the key takeaways from the expert video
CommitmentConcrete examples to help you define your own commitment

Models & methods

The 3 blockers: criticism, confirmation bias, justification; the 4 levers of a constructive attitude; justifying yourself vs. explaining yourself.