There’s a very popular road in town. If you’re pessimistic, you drive down and decide there’s no parking nearby because the spots you see on the busy road are all taken.
However, a recent survey showed that 60 percent of the street side parking – a mere turn off the main road (!) – goes unused at any point within the day.
Sometimes that’s how it is, though. Opportunity shows up where we want it, so long as we’re willing to make a turn or two down the road.
There’s a significant number of people who live each day to uphold the status quo (you?).
In present day communities, it’s not even about what we’ll tell our neighbors about a decision.
We can control our voice and the story we tell others about ourselves.
The voice we can’t control is the one that tells someone else.
It’s more of a concern of what our neighbors will tell, what our family will say behind our backs, the words our our coworkers will share with our boss.
Thing is, trying to control the voice of others is an unwinnable war. As with most things in life, it’s better to focus on what matters: The words you use with those who mean a lot to you.
Stay Positive & Choose The Words Carefully (They May Be Repeated)
There’s a wickedly smart worker at a business downtown. The work she does is excellent and the connections she makes with customers keep them coming back.
But, every now and then, people wonder why she’s not where she’s supposed to be on time, why the project didn’t get completed on deadline, why her attitude is poor.
It’s because of people like her that many of us wave the words around, “I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt.” We understand there’s a likely reason for the unexpected actions.
However, many may think she’s so talented that nothing could bring her down or make her fumble on the job. They’ve created an ideal of perfection, which, to a degree, is the fault of the worker herself for setting the bar so high. Sure.
But, it’s near-sighted to hold someone else accountable for being incredible 100 percent of the time even when we’re used to it.
Equally unfair to expecting perfection is wishing the imperfection away or trying to force the excellence in one area of life to another.
I’d say it’s the flaws, the fact there are reasons to offer people the benefit of the doubt that makes them a joy to work with and be around.
Imagine for a moment if the person who is excellent at work is the same at home and in their community. You probably imagine a robot void of emotion, right? Because that’s what it would take for someone to excel at every facet of their life.
So, maybe benefit of the doubt is the wrong expression to use. Maybe it’s, “They’re human. Let’s talk to them to see what the source of the issue is and how we can help. Maybe they only need some slack or maybe they need a friend.”
Responsibility isn’t about letting people be. It’s being there for them when they’re on and even closer when they’re off.
That’s the real benefit of the doubt.
Stay Positive & “How Can I Help?” May Be The Most Powerful Words
Not a reaction. Not a convenient time between reaching back out. Not negligence. Not so short that it’s condescending. Not too quick to show thoughtlessness.
But a sincere (timely and thoughtful) response is all we hope for.
And because we never get it, it’s even more important those who connect with you get it from you.
