Just about everyone I know feels like they are hanging on a thread about to snap.
They feel out of gas, with no room for missed deadlines, no tolerance for anything going awry, no patience for mistakes.
And to be fair part of that is that it feels like everything is just a little bit harder than it was a few years ago. Whether it’s social media or the political environment or the economy, I think there’s a 10% energy tax just getting through your day right now.
When something odd or bad happens, we are tempted to get angry. From many perspectives, it is the rational response. But while you might get some relief for the tension you feel, the blow back in both productivity and trust is often bigger than the problem that started it.
I wonder what would happen if before we get critical, before we express frustration, we get curious? What would happen, if from a place of curiosity and not snark, you were to ask questions like what else is going on? How did you approach it? What else did you try? What do you suggest we do now?
It requires some deep breaths and a little emotional intelligence and patience, but it moves you forward faster than getting angry does.
How do you think about where you use curiosity?
Best,
Julie
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