7/14/23
Happy Friday, PC Rockstars! A full workweek was so refreshing this week after vacation, a family emergency, and a national holiday. I had the opportunity to connect with many of you one-on-one this week and, again, I’m reminded why I’m here. It takes a lot of guts to jump headfirst into a new career with new concepts, new ideas, and a new focus. I get to surround myself with the bravest people I know every day, and for that, I’m eternally grateful for each and every one of you.
REFRAMING OUR RESPONSES
“I AM FRUSTRATED.”
“I AM OVERWHELMED.”
“WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?”
I hear this a lot from agents, clients, colleagues, and friends. When someone comes to you with a problem, what is your first response? By nature, we’re wired to be problem solvers and fixers, and as leaders, it’s our job to frame up our response to not so much serve as a bandaid, but rather as an opportunity for that person to learn and grow.
Let’s talk about reframing.
“I am frustrated.” Our natural response to this would be something like “how can I help?” We want to identify the actual problem, ask probing questions, and offer a solid solution. Let me challenge you on this… Knowing the source of frustration, let’s reframe the response. “What can you learn from this experience that can make you a better parent/agent/person in the future?” Maybe it’s resetting expectation… maybe it’s revisiting your value proposition… maybe it’s something else. My point is, it isn’t always OUR JOB to be the problem solvers for other people. As leaders, it is our job to help people learn and grow.
Let’s try another one. “I am overwhelmed.” Knee-jerk response would be (at least from me) “what can I take off of your plate?” So what is a better response to this? Maybe we can try to help this person sort through what is indeed important and urgent and identify those things blocking the flow of productivity. “What is something you’re doing right now that if you stopped doing, nobody would notice?”
One more… I hear this one a lot. “Why is this happening to me?” Ooof. There is a LOT to unpack with this question and perhaps a million different responses to try to console and comfort someone who is clearly experiencing pain. It’s a visceral urge to protect those we care about from suffering. May I offer a solid response that could in fact not only help your person reframe their perspective, but maybe also help you?
“What if this is actually happening FOR you?”
I truly hope this gives you something to think about when you have conversations with your friends, your family, your peers and your sphere.
Be the leader.
As always, it is an honor and a pleasure to be in business with you.
Coach Lins
