Sheep in Wolf's Clothing

You may have heard the saying “a wolf in sheep's clothing.” It’s based on a biblical warning: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Essentially it represents someone who seems kind when they actually have nefarious intentions.

Some examples of people who might be considered wolves in sheep's clothing would be:

• A politician who promises to help the poor but is secretly taking advantage of them to help the rich.
• A religious leader who claims to be a prophet but is actually just a con artist.
• A person who claims to be your friend but betrays your confidence and speaks badly about you behind your back

What about the other way around? Call it a sheep in wolf's clothing. When someone SEEMS bad but is actually good? Some examples of people who might be:

• A person who has a tough exterior but is actually kind and caring.
• A dog with a loud bark that seems vicious but, in reality, is friendly
• A person who is new to a group and is met with suspicion, but who proves to be extremely trustworthy and a valuable member of the group.

How does this show up in a work setting?

Let’s apply the same concept to words instead of people. What are some words that SEEM negative but could actually be beneficial? How could you flip the script and genuinely feel good about some of the challenges you encounter in your day to day activities?

Words like criticism, conflict, and failure are some of the top ones that come to mind. Nobody yearns to be criticized or have conflict and, much less, to fail. Why? Because of the way these things make us FEEL. But what could happen if we allowed ourselves to accept and even feel GOOD about these things?

Constructive criticism, meaning it comes from a good place and with the intent to BUILD UP vs tear down, can help a person that is willing to learn and grow. So, in order for this to be something positive, it’s important to have a well-meaning critic and a receptive listener.

When you receive constructive criticism, take it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Instead of taking it too personally, look at it as a helpful feedback that can help you refine your skills.

Conflict can allow for open and transparent dialogue. It can allow for better collaboration and communication. But for conflict to be productive, the people involved need to have mutual trust. If someone is criticizing for the sake of being combative or assuming the worst intentions from their counterpart, then conflict can be destructive and delay progress.

If you are experiencing conflict with someone, try to see it as an opportunity to understand each other better. Instead of getting defensive, try to listen to the other person's point of view and to respectfully explain your own.

Failures may be the ones that get the worst rep. Sure, no one wants to fail for the sake of feeling defeated. But there’s a definite upside to failures. They are lessons in the making. The outcome could be: “I’m never doing that again” or it could be “That wasn’t what I was expecting but now I know what worked and what didn’t.”

When you fail, don't beat yourself up about it. Instead, see it as a learning experience. Learn from your mistakes and use them to keep improving.

What can you do?

Perception and mindset (basically the way we CHOOSE to look at things) have a big impact about how we FEEL about them. So, given the choice, why would you WANT to focus on the negative? Here are a few practical ways that you can turn these wolves to sheep:

• Be grateful for the feedback.?When someone gives you constructive criticism, be grateful for the feedback. It means that they care about your work and want you to succeed.
• See it as a challenge.?It’s an opportunity to learn and to grow. It can also make you a stronger person.
• Learn from your mistakes.?Failure is a great teacher. It can teach you what you need to do differently next time. It can also make you more determined to succeed.

As an executive coach, mindset (or perception) is one of the primary things I work on with most of my clients. Below are a few examples.

• Provide support and guidance Help you deal with criticism, conflict, and failure in a positive way. This can help you to see these as opportunities for growth rather than as setbacks.
• Coping mechanisms?These techniques can help you to stay calm and to focus on the positive aspects of the situation.
• Build resilience.?Develop your ability to bounce back from setbacks. Just like muscle memory, the more you practice, the more resilient you become.

If you’re interested in learning more about working with me, book a consultation here: https://calendly.com/latinaleadershipcoach