Negative Positive Reactions

Some reactions are straight up visceral.

You here about a change in the work place and your reaction is to be pissed off. No doubt, negative reactions don’t get us far.

But what about positive ones?

If a colleague shares a problem of theirs with you, your reaction is likely to figure out a way to solve it for them. You want to help and you want to help right away. That’s a positive reaction.

But it can still generate a negative result. The problem they shared might not be the real problem they are facing. The problem they shared might be them thinking out loud on their own path of solving it. They may have shared the problem so that another person they trust will encourage them to solve it–not solve it for them.

In all situations, a quick reaction to help isn’t actually helping.

It’s far better to respond than to react.

The space between reacting and responding is the space of listening.

The more you listen the better you can respond.

The better you respond, the more positive impact you can make.

Stay Positive & Reactions, Even Ones With Positive Intentions, Can Be More Harmful Than Helpful

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Garth Beyer
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