Have you ever seen someone coming, and wanted to run the other way? I think we all feel it sometimes. But have you asked yourself how others view you?
Are you the Gorilla in the room? A person that makes others want to run? Or at the sight of you, do others warm, knowing your interaction will leave them feeling encouraged, strengthened, or relieved? The accumulation of our attitudes, reactions, pro-actions, and approach determine how effective or ineffective we are at work, home, or in the world at large.
The pattern of our past behavior sets the tone for what people can expect from us in the future. Can we be trusted with their investment of time and energy?
- Attitudes: Plenty of wisdom exists on the subject of human attitude and the affect it has on our success. According to Merriam-Webster, attitude is defined like this: A mental position with regard to a fact or state. A feeling or emotion toward a fact or state. The arrangement of the parts of a body or figure.
- Reactions: Even when we try to mask it, our purest beliefs spill out through the words we use. Here’s part of Merriam-Webster’s definition of reaction: Resistance or opposition to a force, influence, or movement; especially tendency toward a former and usually outmoded political or social order or policy. A response to some treatment, situation, or stimulus. Such a response expressed verbally.
- Pro-action: This is our pre-determined resolve to choose a positive mental and emotional response to someone or something else whenever possible. Confession time. There is no word from Webster, I made this one up. It’s my way of expressing Philippians 4:8, to focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. To seek moral excellence in another.
- Approach: If we don’t want others to avoid us, it helps if we don’t avoid them. When we open our ears to hear, and our minds to consider someone else’s ideas, opinions, thoughts, and creativeness, we show respect. We can ultimately agree to disagree, but respect waits to make that decision until full information has been disclosed. Our friends at Webster define approach this way: To draw closer to. To come very near to. Be almost the same as. To make advances to especially in order to create a desired result. To take preliminary steps toward accomplishment or full knowledge or experience of <approach the subject with an open mind>.
Do you use your two ears to listen twice as much as you speak? Does your attitude, reaction, pro-action, and approach make you someone others want to be around? Does your smile welcome?
Anita Agers-Brooks is a Business and Inspirational Coach, Certified Personality Trainer, Productivity Specialist, Certified Team Training Facilitator, Marketing Specialist, national speaker, and author of the soon-to-be released book, First Hired, Last Fired — How to Become Irreplaceable in Any Job Market.
She’s a member of the Christian Writer’s Guild, client of WordServe Literary Group, graduate of CLASS for Leaders, Speakers, and Authors, a co-founder of The StoryWriting Studio, and speaker on circuit for Stonecroft International Ministries.
Anita’s passionate about business with integrity, healthy relationships, and issues of identity. She travels the country teaching others from her personal experiences and research. She believes it’s never too late for a fresh start with fresh faith. Anita lives in Missouri with her husband Ricky.
Follow her FreshFaith blog anitabrooks.com. You may contact her via website anitabrooks.com/contact/ or email anita.freshfaith@gmail.com.
Leave a Reply