In business, our reputation is priceless. That’s why we need to ensure we do everything we can to enhance it and avoid anything that might damage it.
Warren Buffett summed it up like this:
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”
It’s all too easy to react in the heat of the moment, to say or do something we soon regret, then end up paying a hefty price afterwards. That’s why we benefit so much from acquiring the habit of pausing, before we respond to anything that’s potentially sensitive.
Listen, think, pause then respond.
If we think before we react, we give ourselves the time to act with a calmer and usually clearer mind. It’s easier to stop yourself from saying something toxic, than it is to repair the damage afterwards. As they say, it’s easy to get the toothpaste out of the tube, but it’s a lot harder to get it back in.
Here’s a suggestion. The next time you find yourself in a situation, where you are about to immediately react to something that could be sensitive, stop! Go for a walk, even if it’s just for 10 minutes, then think about how to respond, if indeed you need to respond. It works extremely well.
IMPORTANT: If you want to make more sales, boost your profits and grow an amazing business, this will help you!