I wrote earlier today about accepting and keeping criticism in perspective. My confession that criticism is NOT something I naturally take well got me to thinking about other “instinctual responses.” While we do need to be able to tap into our instincts when it comes to running a small business, we also need to keep them in check. I do not think there are “good” and “bad” instinctual responses, but I do think there is a time and a place for everything!
As an entrepreneur and a sole-proprietor—as many of us are—we ARE our businesses. Whatever we do is a direct reflection on our business and however we respond to customers, clients, prospects, vendors, etc. will come back on us and on our businesses. This means that any angry outburst or snarky response has the potential to be magnified and become a “bigger deal” than we may have initially intended.
It may sound incredibly obvious, but learning how to control things like anger, judgment, and even glowing excitement can help us improve our business dealings. I am certainly not advocating that we become cold, controlled robots—but if we come across as undisciplined in our personal interactions—our businesses could suffer.
Take time, breathe, learn how to count to ten or think and wait before responding—all of these are proven ways to tame those instinctual responses. I’ve learned that if I can just buy myself a little time, I tend to make better decisions and react more appropriately with people. It is those “in the heat of the moment” responses that can get me into trouble. Of course, we are human beings with human emotions and very human responses—but learning how to keep things tamed and a bit more “controlled” can make us better business people.
Also: Coping With Shyness