On the importance of soft skills I write ??

One of the topics that has been on my mind lately is the idea that in the business world, "who" you work with is far more important than the "what" you do. And how one of the fundamental laws of work is the return on investment in long-term relationships.

I first realized this when I read a quote by Maya Angelou where she said, "People will forget what you said or did, but they will never forget how you made them feel." And I can certainly attest to that throughout my 16-year professional journey.

From Naive to Mastery:

I admit, that I didn't -always- have the emotional intelligence necessary to excel in my career which explains why in a way, we end up teaching what we needed to learn.

My learning journey began when I stopped blaming others and started taking responsibility & here are three things I learned:

1. People are investments: Working with the right people is like investing in a winning horse. Their skills and personalities can significantly impact your career trajectory. Understanding them is crucial for success.
2. Actions over words: Observe people's behaviors, not just their words. Their actions will reveal their true intentions and values.
3. Emotional mastery: Avoid making impulsive decisions when you're emotionally charged.

Let me expand on that ??

I learned this lesson from a mentor of mine who taught me how to to avoid making hasty decisions while emotional. My mentor taught me the distinction between a reaction and a response. There's a significant difference between reacting impulsively and responding thoughtfully.

But How? A reactive response is immediate and often driven by emotion, like responding with anger if someone bumps into you on the street. We've all seen athletes lose their cool on the field and make decisions that could ruin their careers. The Oscars incident is another example, where the host was assaulted by one of the guests.

The lesson here is that when you're emotionally charged, take a step back

& Follow this three-step rule ??

1. Identify multiple options: Having only one reaction puts you in a reactive mood, making you more vulnerable ?.
2. Consider multiple options: If you only have two choices, you're now in a dilemma ????♀?
3. On 3 Go: Having three or more >3 options empowers you to make a thoughtful decision. By responding from a place of strength, you can avoid making mistakes you'll later regret.

In simpler terms:

• Don't react, respond: Think before you act, especially when you're upset.
• Consider all your options: The more options you have, the better your decision will be.
• We have all been there: Self compassion is your best friend in this journey so have some faith that you will get there ????♀?.