How Your Words Reflect Your Attitude

Learn from the American can-do spirit. Positive language focuses on what you can do instead of what you cannot do. This will be especially effective and helpful if you have to deliver bad news or say no to someone.

Negative language tells what cannot be done. It has a subtle or obvious tone of blame. Body language: frowning, rolling your eyes to be dismissive, crossing your arms over your chest, tapping your fingers to indicate impatience. NEGATIVE → POSITIVE Not too bad Great! Cannot complain All is good, thanks. Positive language tells what can be done. I will try ... I will ... It suggests alternatives and choices. I forgot I will definitely remember next It is helpful and encouraging. time. / I will make sure I never forget again. Body Language: smiling, maintaining a calm and neutral face, You are doing ok Keep up the good work! nodding to indicate agreement or encouragement ACTION CAN-DO SPIRIT AT WORK ● Highlight the positive 1 Study negative versus positive language. Make the ● Show a willingness to help negative sentences a-c positive. For example: ● Project a service-oriented attitude Negative: “I’m not able to process your request because ● you did not give me all of the information I needed.” ● If you say no, explain why, and show Positive: “I’d be more than happy to process your request. empathy I just need to get a bit more information from you.” a “I don’t understand what you mean. This is not going to work.” b “I can’t help you on your project.” c “I give up. The task you have given me is not possible to solve.” 2 Switch your answers to task 1 with someone in class and act out being more positive. Discuss the answers and change if necessary. 3 Find Springsteen’s "Working on a Dream". Discuss what his lyrics say about work attitude.

American World War II poster to boost female worker morale. Vurderingseksemplar subtle ørliten obvious åpenbar/openberr emphasize legge vekt på / leggje vekt på consequences konsekvenser/konsekvensar frowning rynke på brynene / rynke på bryna encouraging oppmuntrende/oppmuntrande nodding nikke