Do you find yourself...
Take some steps to refocus your attention so that you can respond in a more productive way.
Someone's point of view is causing you to fantasize your hands around their neck: Usually you should walk away from confrontation. Getting away from the source of the frustration normally results in cooler heads prevailing. In work scenarios, this may not be an option.
To unblock the road to compromise:
Bad day began with bad hair... and is only getting worse: Everywhere you look you see potential issues and new worries. Our brains are wired to look for relationships among our individual worlds. As a species, it's how we figured out innovations like farming and rocket science. Unfortunately it is also the catalyst that drives UFO and other conspiracy theories. Your brain is going to make connections between events in the day and it is up to you to be make sure that your bad morning doesnt turn into a bad day.
Sooooo much to do!: Your full plate of to-dos has three courses behind it and you can't take another bite. Putting your head down and working hard worked a for few exams in college when you had to cram, so you usually try that. Unfortunately for you, that was when you didn't have kids, a real job, or other responsibilities. Real life is hard.
Prioritize: Take a minute (or two or hours) and get a firm grip on what NEEDS to be done. It isn't always that apparent and is usually time sensitive. T - 48 hours and you can fret over slide layout for the big presentation. At 3 am the morning of an 8 am product pitch, you should be less inclined to go over the aesthetics of individual slides. Need some help? Plot your todos along this matrix and accomplish the quadrant one first, making sure everything is accounted for.
Get help: Don't be the guy that shows up unprepared only to gloriously fail, embarrassing your boss and everyone associated with you . If a project is getting too big and time is slipping away, ask for help. The "Doug Flutie" approach to work is great for not bruising your ego when you find yourself in a pinch. If successful, you, your only fan, is elated.
The key is to win the game before the 4th quarter. Keep in mind that Boston College has played thousands of football games, and won by hail mary maybe twice. Prepare, plan for the game, and call in reinforcements when needed so that you can be just another person who gets to put that mark in the "w" column.
- exasperated
- short fused
- jumpy
- snapping at the slightest irritation
Take some steps to refocus your attention so that you can respond in a more productive way.
Someone's point of view is causing you to fantasize your hands around their neck: Usually you should walk away from confrontation. Getting away from the source of the frustration normally results in cooler heads prevailing. In work scenarios, this may not be an option.
To unblock the road to compromise:
- Listen to the other side. Don't focus on their obvious stupidity, but their point. What in the crux of their argument?
- Devils advocate: take their point and pit it against yours. Would it last a round or be KO'd in seconds. Does their idea have the substance to go a few rounds?
- Focus on what you have in common. Do you agree the sun rises in the east? point it in writing. Verbally going over and/or writing down similar stances saves time and provides a firm jumping off point to resolution
Bad day began with bad hair... and is only getting worse: Everywhere you look you see potential issues and new worries. Our brains are wired to look for relationships among our individual worlds. As a species, it's how we figured out innovations like farming and rocket science. Unfortunately it is also the catalyst that drives UFO and other conspiracy theories. Your brain is going to make connections between events in the day and it is up to you to be make sure that your bad morning doesnt turn into a bad day.
- Take a step back and breath: Serenity now, serenity now
- Get a new perspective: Look at things in their real-world context. A red light stopping you on the way to work that is normally green is not a sign that your promotion was denied.
- Take ownership of your problems: Don't let your brain trick you into thinking everything was the result of a bad day. Coffee gets spilled because of gravity and carelessness. Accpet issues for what the are, solve if possible, but always move on.
Sooooo much to do!: Your full plate of to-dos has three courses behind it and you can't take another bite. Putting your head down and working hard worked a for few exams in college when you had to cram, so you usually try that. Unfortunately for you, that was when you didn't have kids, a real job, or other responsibilities. Real life is hard.
Prioritize: Take a minute (or two or hours) and get a firm grip on what NEEDS to be done. It isn't always that apparent and is usually time sensitive. T - 48 hours and you can fret over slide layout for the big presentation. At 3 am the morning of an 8 am product pitch, you should be less inclined to go over the aesthetics of individual slides. Need some help? Plot your todos along this matrix and accomplish the quadrant one first, making sure everything is accounted for.
Get help: Don't be the guy that shows up unprepared only to gloriously fail, embarrassing your boss and everyone associated with you . If a project is getting too big and time is slipping away, ask for help. The "Doug Flutie" approach to work is great for not bruising your ego when you find yourself in a pinch. If successful, you, your only fan, is elated.
The key is to win the game before the 4th quarter. Keep in mind that Boston College has played thousands of football games, and won by hail mary maybe twice. Prepare, plan for the game, and call in reinforcements when needed so that you can be just another person who gets to put that mark in the "w" column.
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