"C" is for "Control"
I have told you in previous tips that I am a control freak. Many of you have written to me confessing your own CF tendencies. So last week when I tried to fly from Chicago to Indianapolis (a 25 minute flight) and ended up being in the airport for nearly 10 hours, you can imagine my frustration. It was the worst flying day I have had in 10 years. Several times during that day I had the opportunity to make a decision, only to have that decision taken away from me through cancelled flights or prohibitive prices. It was an important lesson for me - upon reflection (but not at the time)!
Here’s what I can share with you:
1. People need information and they have to trust the source of that information. If they don’t have either of these, they will experience a tremendous amount of frustration.
2. People need to know why. Don’t tell me a flight is cancelled – or the deadline for a work project has been changed without telling me why. Again, it is important for your reason to be believable.
3. You have control over how you react. I am very proud of the way I reacted throughout the day – including the tears of frustration that fell at the end of the day. But I can’t be expected to manage them over a long period of time without impairing my morale and effectiveness.
Where are your opportunities to help workers or co-workers thrive when their lives are impacted by things out of their control? Can you help them get the correct and trusted information? Can you explain the rationale behind the decisions? Can you allow them the opportunity to vent their frustrations and praise their positive behavior during particularly difficult times? I sure hope so. Take it from me, you WILL be allowing them to THRIVE!
I hope you have all the control you need today!
Tracy
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Tracy Knofla
High Impact Training
PS. Feel free to share this with your friends and colleagues