按小时调整态度

Jewish psychiatrist Viktor Frankl was at home with his mother, 父亲, 哥哥, and wife when they heard a loud rap at their front door. On that tragic day in 1942 during WWII, the intrusion meant only one thing for this Jewish family. Frankl and his family members were transported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp and later to Auschwitz to await their fate. Viktor survived three years in the sadistic camps, eventually going on to live to the age of 92, while the rest of his family died in captivity. Frankl describes his experiences and lessons learned in the poignant book titled 人类对意义的追寻 (1959). A turning point for Viktor in his hellish environment was the day when he was being interrogated under a bright light; he had been stripped naked, 他的头剃光了, all worldly possessions confiscated – that he realized that no matter what the Nazis did to him, 他们无法改变他的态度. 他的态度，或者 人生观, was his 决定 that he could control on a daily basis.

Frankl teaches us that one’s attitude is not dependent on environmental factors, as he found a way to see the positives in life even living in Auschwitz. Scientists confirm that there is also nothing genetic about one’s attitude. 每个人的态度都是一个 决定 这是有意识的. When the alarm clock goes off in the morning, 我们的脚踩在地板上, we must daily wrestle with our attitude.

As a teacher in the classroom or leader within any organization, our attitude realistically must be intentionally adjusted frequently - by the hour. 这是一个重要的调整, since leaders set the tone for those they are called to lead. It is imperative to be cognizant of one’s attitude throughout the day, as many eyes are watching and lives are being affected.

There are three truisms about attitude worth considering by teachers and school administrators. 首先，态度是 可控. If you are a positive person – it is your choice. Conversely, if you are a negative person – it is your choice. 世界上到处都是消极的人. Today’s classrooms are filled with students who live in caustic homes and societal environments. It is imperative for teachers and administrators to understand that part of their job description is to convey a refreshing positive 人生观 – which only they can control.

第二，态度很容易 评估. Researchers assert that a person has seven seconds to make a positive first impression. Since you never have a second opportunity to make a first impression, you must take advantage of your scant time given. A person’s attitude is a big part of that first impression. You can sense within seconds how a person feels towards another individual, group, or situation. A room full of students can quickly ascertain their teacher’s attitude towards them as people and the subject matter being taught. 同样地, individual faculty and staff members can easily decipher how much they are valued and appreciated by the attitude conveyed to them by their school leader.

最后，态度是高度 会传染的. It is amazing how who we hang around with rubs off on us as we live our lives. It is hard not to become more enthusiastic and hopeful when associating with people who convey a positive 人生观. Conversely, negativity can spread like a malignant virus in a group. 使徒保罗, writes very succinctly in I Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled, 坏朋友腐蚀好品格.” A familiar adage that should cause all leaders to take regular inventory of one’s 人生观 is: “Attitudes are 会传染的 – is yours worth catching?”

As a teacher in today’s classroom or an administrator leading a school, it is critical to recognize that we are responsible for our attitudes. We cannot be dependent on having a perfect set of students, 教员, 或者学校董事会代表. We must reconcile our attitude regularly. We read a noble goal for our lives in Philippians 2:5: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.“没有比这更好的了! Leaders in education today are carefully observed and scrutinized by students, 父母, 和他的同事们. We have a wonderful opportunity to display our affinity for Jesus Christ through our 人生观 – which is why it is imperative to intentionally 按小时调整我们的态度.

Kent schlichtemier, Ed.D. is a former junior high school and high school teacher and coach. 在过去的三十年里, he has served as a professor and administrator 在欧文的康考迪亚大学 in the School of Education. Kent received his Master's Degree in Sports Science from the University of Denver and Ed.D. 获得加州大学洛杉矶分校教育领导学硕士学位. Kent serves today as the 导演 of Concordia's 仆人式领导学院 and enjoys frequent opportunities to speak on exemplary servant leadership characteristics and skills.