Rather than “How are you responding to adversity?”, perhaps a more useful measure of your character is “What are you doing with your freedom?”
a solid negotiation tip
Looking to achieve a more effective compromise? Try shifting your focus from “how much” to “what”.
the core of every good decision you’ll ever make
The Scenario: You’ve got a stressful issue that needs to be resolved as quickly & easily as possible. What exactly are you dealing with…
A PROBLEM is an issue that has finite & concrete boundaries; it can be “solved”.
Insight: Naturally, the best strategy when you’ve identified a PROBLEM is to devise a solution to it. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get sidetracked into wasting energy trying to “manage” it instead, achieving nothing other than exhaustion. So a friendly word of caution: Never adopt a strategy of trying to manage or mitigate the effects of a PROBLEM; focus on finding a solution to it.
A PRESSURE is an issue that has no finite & concrete boundaries; it can’t be “solved”.
Insight: The best strategy to adopt when you’ve identified a PRESSURE is to identify which vectors of it you can mitigate and/or manage, and then assign your resources to doing so. But be careful, because it is very tempting to just jump right in and try to find a “solution”; many people continue to grind themselves, their resources, and their morale to dust in futile attempts to “solve” a PRESSURE… don’t be one of them.
The Takeaway: Always identify whether the issue under consideration is a PROBLEM or a PRESSURE. Remember: They often feel the same, so it’s always worth it to take a moment to decide up front which you’re actually dealing with: PROBLEM or PRESSURE – you’ll be glad you did.
how to leverage power struggles
All power struggles are all about locus of control.
Never forget that yours is strongest when your position is dead-center of your own “sphere of influence”, such as it is.
So when you find yourself caught in the middle of a power struggle, note carefully in the center of whose sphere you happen to currently be standing. And if it is not your own, review your strategy one more time before you consider flexing any muscles or exerting any effort.
There will be times when this shift in perspective is all that you require to shift the balance of power in your favour. Think about it.
what I refer to as a “decision gate”
What is a Decision Gate? The most critical element of every decision you will ever make. Decision Gate is a term I’ve coined to describe the very first Y-junction – the very first choice – that we make whenever we contemplate a decision. Every Decision Gate ultimately determines the trajectory of that decision, so knowing which one to choose dramatically simplifies the process.
why decision gates should matter to you
Because choosing the best DG delivers clear & reliable decisions.
While DG are often selected unconsciously by default, the good news is that with practice DG can be deliberately chosen. Having researched decision-making for many years over a huge cross-section of people, environments and circumstances, the value is clear: being able to deliberately choose the best DG guarantees mastery over the clarity & reliability of whatever decision needs to be made.
Deliberately choosing the most suitable DG for your circumstances points your decision-making process in the right direction. And as you become increasingly familiar with the varieties of DG that we all use, you can become increasingly deliberate in your decisions.
After all, knowing which DG you’ve chosen and why you chose it gives you tremendous confidence & leverage when it comes time to “pull the trigger” on your decision.