Sometimes when we want to make a change in ourselves or our organizations, it’s not that we can’t or we don’t want to. It’s often that we have an attitude problem.

What I refer to is the attitude we hold about an issue based on our thinking - beliefs, assumptions, and expectations.

Here’s an example: We may hold the attitude that the concert performance is the product. 

There is nothing wrong with the idea. At the same time, it can lead us to believe the only thing that matters is the concert. And it’s only a success if we perform well. If we didn’t perform well, it can mean we didn’t work hard enough or are simply not good enough. It can also lead us to believe that the audience only cares about the concert, leading us to expect them to simply want what we want for ourselves. 

This attitude impacts what we think and how we show up. It affects our behaviors and expectations. 

The result may be unhelpful pressure that leads to underperformance, undervaluing the quality of work done in rehearsals, or overlooking the amount of progress made. 

So, how may we shift this attitude? How about this: every rehearsal is a product. 

This can lead us to believe the process matters. We have an opportunity to feel proud of the product each day instead of waiting for the concert (and hope it goes well). How would that change our definition of success? How would that change how we show up? How would that encourage us to improve conditions for a better rehearsal experience? What would we end up valuing?

We can also assume with this attitude that the audience is curious about us beyond the concert event. How can we take advantage of this? What if we sold tickets to every rehearsal and people could come see the part of the process that interests them the most?

My point here is not that we need to change our attitude about concerts. What I hope to help us see is that our attitude may be what's keeping us stuck. And if we’re looking to change, adjusting our attitude may lead to different perspectives that result in changed behavior.

I hope we can all consider: how can we shift our attitude in order to move forward.

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