The Power of Pause: How I Learned to Stop Reacting and Start Responding

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to another edition of my LinkedIn Newsletter titled "Self-Help", where I share some insights and tips on how to improve your personal and professional life. Today, I want to talk about a skill that has helped me a lot in my career and relationships: the power of not responding to any situation impulsively.

You see, we live in a fast-paced world, where we are constantly bombarded with information, requests, feedback, and challenges. Sometimes, we feel the urge to react immediately, without taking the time to think things through. We may say something we regret, send an email we wish we could take back, or make a decision we later realize was wrong.

But what if we could pause for a moment, and resist the impulse to respond right away? What if we could take a deep breath, and consider the consequences of our actions? What if we could choose the best response, instead of the first one that comes to mind?

That's what I learned to do a few years ago when I faced a difficult situation at work. I was leading a project that was behind schedule and over budget. One day, I received an angry email from my boss, who blamed me for the failure of the project and threatened to fire me if I didn't fix it. I was shocked, hurt, and angry. My first instinct was to reply with a defensive and aggressive email, telling him how unfair he was and how hard I had worked.

But then I remembered a piece of advice I had read somewhere: "Don't respond when you are emotional. Wait until you calm down." So I decided to do just that. I closed my laptop and went for a walk. I let myself feel all the emotions that were running through me, but I didn't act on them. I gave myself some time to cool off and clear my mind.

When I came back, I opened the email again, and read it with a different perspective. I realized that my boss was also under a lot of pressure and that he probably didn't mean everything he said. I also realized that there were some valid points in his feedback and that I could use them to improve the project. So instead of sending an angry email, I sent a calm and professional one. I acknowledged his concerns, apologized for the delays and the costs, and proposed a realistic plan to get the project back on track. I also asked for a meeting to discuss the situation in person.

To my surprise, he replied with a much more positive tone. He thanked me for my email and agreed to meet with me. He also apologized for being harsh and said he appreciated my efforts. We had a productive meeting, where we resolved our issues and aligned our expectations. We ended up completing the project successfully, and he even gave me a bonus for my performance.

That experience taught me a valuable lesson: not responding impulsively can save you from a lot of trouble. It can help you avoid conflicts, misunderstandings, and mistakes. It can also help you build trust, respect, and rapport with others. It can make you a better leader, colleague, friend, and partner.

So next time you face a situation that triggers your emotions, try this simple technique: pause before you respond. Take a moment to breathe, think, and choose the best response. You'll be amazed by the results.

That's all for today. Thank you for reading my newsletter. If you enjoyed it, please share it with your network. And if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below. I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time,

Enjoy Your Day!!!

“Don’t postpone your Career Growth. You’ve worked too hard for too long years in the same position”

I help ambitious professionals get in alignment with their authentic selves so that they experience greater levels of joy, creativity, clarity, and self-expression.

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