I would be remiss if I didn't follow up the last essay with a quick comment. Practicing deliberative thinking and maintaining a calm demeanor in all your day to day interactions is the best way to earn a reputation as a strong leader and a person to be reckoned with. Remember that the key is to be patient at all times and in all things.
This is especially important when dealing with difficult people. We all know how easy it is to get exasperated, frustrated, and blurt out some comment that we come to regret. In these situations, always take the time to think things through and to carefully consider your words before speaking. While this may lead to long pauses, don't worry, these just add to air of a contemplative mind at work. And it allows you maintain control of your emotions while considering what is being said and what your best options are for moving forward. Resist the urge to react and decide quickly, 9 times out of 10, the pressure to react is a self-imposed one. When in doubt, when you are frustrated, when you are overwhelmed, draw back, slow the train down, and think. A patient approach always helps the decision making process, and projects the image of a strong willed person at the helm.
Also don't be afraid to table a difficult matter for some period of time, be it a few minutes, hours, or days. Letting issues move off the front burner gives your subconscious time to mull things over. It also gives you a chance to come back to a problem with a fresh set of eyes.
One last thing, in a difficult conversation or situation, ask three questions of yourself before you let your lips move:
Is what I want to say true?
Is it kind?
Is it necessary?
If not, let it be left unsaid.
While this may not always be practical, its one heck of a good way to approach things!
[The three questions are not an original thought, you might call them my Mom's advice, but I'll be darned if I know where she picked them up]
No comments:
Post a Comment