Respond or React: What’s Your Style?

When confronted with a problem or opportunity do you Respond to the whole situation or React to your narrow experience of it?

A Reaction is a reflex –impulsive action focused on a narrow part of the overall situation, usually to the exclusion of larger goals and objectives. Often it is quick and happens without much or any thought – similar to the reflex when the doctor hits your knee with the rubber hammer and your lower leg flips up. It’s an answer to a specific question rather than an answer to the need behind the question. It’s action based on an awareness of, and a solution for, only a “narrow slice” of the situation.

A Response however, is a wiser course of action, encompassing the complexities of people and circumstances with an unflinching focus on goals and outcomes. It’s action to accomplish goals based on a more thorough understanding of the whole situation.

Effective employees achieve results because they understand the fundamental difference between a hasty Reaction and a Wise Response.  Teach your team to Cultivate a Wise Response with an engaging training and coaching program.