"Instantaneous decisions are not in our best interest and can lead to bad outcomes. Waiting gives you the opportunity to learn more about the situation at hand and to process it in a more nuanced way." — Frank Partnoy
You know when you get an emotionally charged email or phone call that causes your heart to race and you feel compelled to respond immediately ? You want to say something — now. Well, don't. Pause. Take 10 breaths before hitting send on your computer. Consider sleeping on it before opening your mouth. Take the time to assess what is going on. Why are you so triggered? How can you stay grounded and respond without reacting? Make sure you understand where the other person is coming from. Don't personalize it. Most things have nothing to do with us. Remember that the only person you can change is you. Once calm and centered, decide if you need or want to take action. At the end of the day, you don't want to make a situation worse and have to apologize for your behavior at a later date.
You know when you get an emotionally charged email or phone call that causes your heart to race and you feel compelled to respond immediately ? You want to say something — now. Well, don't. Pause. Take 10 breaths before hitting send on your computer. Consider sleeping on it before opening your mouth. Take the time to assess what is going on. Why are you so triggered? How can you stay grounded and respond without reacting? Make sure you understand where the other person is coming from. Don't personalize it. Most things have nothing to do with us. Remember that the only person you can change is you. Once calm and centered, decide if you need or want to take action. At the end of the day, you don't want to make a situation worse and have to apologize for your behavior at a later date.
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