How many times have we been told not to “take things personally?” I don’t know about you but I get somewhat emotional and attached to outcomes when it involves my home business. With so much invested in terms of blood, sweat and tears—not to mention hours and labor—it can be tough to keep things in perspective when conflicts arise. I have to remind myself to separate the problems and issues from the people so that I can stay strong and effective in my negotiating and problem-solving.
I’ve written before about dealing with challenging customers and clients, or trying to collect past-due payments—both of those can be pretty common challenges in most small, home businesses. Just because they are common, doesn’t mean that we master them easily! It might be helpful to keep in mind the technique for separating the individual from the actual problem. This way, you can focus on working through the problem and finding a solution—without letting personality traits or character flaws of the individual(s) get in the way and keep you from being professional. I know, this can be incredibly hard with someone who is really being nasty or aggressive! But, it’s such an important communication and business skill to learn.
The truth is, when we let ourselves get emotional or personal in our business negotiations and problem-solving, we give away some of our power. By staying calm and being able to detach from the personal part, we can maintain strength and a clear-headed perspective. Plus, it’s far more productive to put our energy into solving a problem than trying to change or influence another person. So, the next time you’re faced with one of those problems in your small-business that seems inextricably linked to a specific individual, try separating the problem from the person and see if it makes it easier for you to get to a resolution.
See Also: How Do You Handle Complaints?