Reflection
Think of one situation where you are being challenged right now. How can you manage this situation to make a positive experience for all involved? My work environment just changed drastically. Instead of being able to be social, we were told that our department is too loud and we must now use our “library voices”. This is hugely challenging for me, as my “library voice” can still be heard clear across the room! Also, as an extrovert who finds pleasure and enjoyment in the company of others, it’s very stifling to be in an almost silent area for 8-9 hours/day. In order to make this a positive experience, I should (a) stop voicing my complaints, as that never helps anyone feel better, even if I think it’s a bonding tool with my co-workers (b) ensure that I take a full lunch hour to get out of the office and talk!

Think about situations in your life when you have had to deal with difficult people or challenging situations. It may have been in your family or business environment, or in some other situation. Now that you are able to look back with distance and wisdom, what do you think was the cause or basis of the situation? In all of my previous jobs, I’ve had to deal with emotionally abusive bosses - one would curse and punch the wall in his office when something went wrong, while the other would belittle me constantly and make me feel like I wasn’t doing a good job - ever. In looking back on it, I realize this is not a personal reflection on me - this is how these men would have behaved to any employee. It’s an ego/power trip for them, and I believe that they liked to assert their power in this extremely negative manner. Now, even though I support someone who could be as abusive as them (but in a different way), I’m able to distance myself from it and realize it has nothing to do with me. It helps me keep things in perspective, and it actually makes me feel sorry that this man has to resort to this behavior. He must be missing something great and important in his life to make him act this way!

None of us are perfect, think of a time when you have been the challenging client or person. How did you feel and why did you react the way you did? What insight did you learn from this experience? Admittingly, I’m the challenging client when I call my IT department. They have such a bad attitude there that I put myself of the defensive when I call there. Although, if I look at it the other way, I only call them when something is wrong/broken and I’m frustrated, so they might be reacting to my attitude. Huh. So, if I wait to take a deep breath before I call them, and don’t immediately treat them as if they’re not going to help me (which they have about a 70% success rate of doing), then I might get somewhere with them. Double Huh.