Topic > The importance of a positive attitude towards authority

IndexIntroductionData analysisImproving skillsComparable conceptsReflectionConclusionIntroductionAn individual is constantly looking for a way to improve himself and there are numerous skills to build on to become a leader, both in management , on a sports team, etc. In this article I will focus on two areas in particular: interpersonal and intrapersonal. Interpersonal communication is the social relationship between two or more people, while intrapersonal communication is the social relationship with oneself. Intrapersonal skills include three components: self-esteem, attitude towards authority and self-control. In essence, an individual with high self-esteem is confident and stable, while an individual lacking in this area is self-critical and has a constant need for reassurance (Hogan & Warrenfeltz, 2003). An individual with a positive attitude towards authority sticks to rules and respects procedures, while an individual with a negative attitude towards authority ignores rules and procedures. Finally, an individual with self-control is self-disciplined, while an individual with low self-control is impulsive and emotional (Hogan & Warrenfeltz, 2003). Furthermore, there are two additional skills that can be improved and which are considered components of interpersonal skills: social and self-control. Individuals who are able to accurately read others and adapt to social situations possess social skills. It is the practice of connecting with others, whether it is through verbal communication or simply through gestures. Self-monitoring, on the other hand, is the process of self-regulation in social situations. All five traits: self-esteem, attitude towards authority, self-control, sociability and self-control, are crucial in a leadership position. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Data Analysis Figure 1, the bar graph shown below, shows the results of the “Intrapersonal/Interpersonal Questionnaire” completed by my friend Ali Alibhai, my colleague Nicholas Jewt, my peer/new acquaintance Amanda Wang, and I. Below, in the tables above, Figures 2 through 5, I have outlined the three informants' scores and calculations, as well as my own. Respondents were given an online questionnaire about their perception of me in relation to the indicated skills, and the results were then forwarded to me via email. The results for social skills were about the same across respondents: my friend rated me a 2, my coworker rated me a 1, my coworker rated me a 0, and I rated me a 1. Below, for self-control, the scores ranged across a range of 18: my friend rated me at 64, my colleague rated me at 82, my colleague rated me at 70, and I rated myself at 64. Next, my attitude toward authority varied greatly between each informant: my friend ranked me at 81, my colleague ranked me at 102, my colleague ranked me at 83, and I ranked at 97. The respondents' results on their perception of my self-esteem were quite similar: my friend ranked me at 48, my colleague ranked me at 57, my colleague at 50, and I at 49. Finally, one more time, the scores for the final skill set, self-monitoring, were within a small range of 5: my friend rated me a 9, my colleague rated me a 9, my colleague rated me a 14, and I ranked at 9. To complete the calculations for the result ineach graph, I deducted the class mean from each skill score and divided the amount by the given standard deviation. Upskilling Given the data in the graph and tables above, it is clear that there is room for improvement. In particular, I would like to focus on improving my attitude towards authority. As previously mentioned, an individual with a positive attitude toward authority is respectful, compliant, socially appropriate, and easy to supervise/converse with. Specifically, respect for higher authority rules, procedures, and individuals plays a crucial role in achieving leadership. Unfortunately, it is only when you assume a leadership position that you recognize the role of respect. You need to understand the difference between seeing leadership as a set of behaviors and seeing leadership as a social relationship. The reason is: “In addition to mutual trust and obligation, respect is vital, and it is this mutual trust, respect and mutual obligation that empowers and motivates both to expand beyond the formalized employment contract and formalized job roles” (Clarke, 2011). As you can see, in this particular field of the individual questionnaire I got a score of 97, while my friend rated me with 81, my colleague with 102 and my colleague with 83. I noticed that there is a discrepancy in the results, these being the different relationships I have with each informant. Considering that Ali Alibhai is my closest friend, he knows me on a personal level and I trust the scores I received from his questionnaire - the results are more likely to be accurate for my daily life. However, my colleague Nicholas Jewt ranked me at 102, because we only interact in the office (CRA), and he observes how compliant I am with the rules and procedures in the book. My colleague Amanda Wang, however, doesn't understand me well since we only met recently at the beginning of this course, four weeks ago. Therefore, the difference in each informant's results is attributed to the relationships I have with them. Comparable Concepts A common mistake that individuals tend to make is to consider attitudes towards authority or respect and admiration as two similar concepts. As discussed in this paper, attitude towards authority is the act of conforming to rules and respecting procedures, as do those in positions of authority. In contrast, admiration is what we feel about people when they display high levels of exceptional ability or virtue (DeLellis, 2000). Essentially, an individual we look up to and want to be. An example of an individual that many respect is Donald Trump, as he is the 45th and current president of the United States. Although citizens of the United States are expected to abide by established rules and procedures, most do not admire him as an individual. Therefore, one is able to respect an individual without admiring them.ReflectionThe reason why I chose this particular skill is because I believe I need to improve to be successful in everyday life and in my career. I interact with many authority figures in my daily life, whether they are professors, supervisors, parents, or anyone else. My attitude towards these people is always more casual than it should be, which is sometimes a plus but other times seems distracted. For example, this leads me to use the phone and relax at work because I don't take my bosses seriously. I find it easy to make a good impression but as time goes by I tend to take things for granted. This type of attitude can hinder my performance as a leader because, although I find it easy to build rapport, sometimes I can.