Putting a stop to poor behavior

Have you ever reacted poorly to a situation that you regretted later?

Yeah, me neither.

Of course I say that tongue-in-cheek. If we are human and breathe air, we all have reacted in a way that could've left something to be desired, probably more times than not. When our 'hot button' is pressed, it is easy to slip down a path of hurtful, destructive behavior.  In the moment, reacting out of frustration or anger 'seems' to be the right thing.  But later, you know the sick feeling that sets in. Whether it's when you're cut off in traffic, or being disrespected by your manager, or during an argument with a loved one, it's easy to allow someone else to trigger our bad behaviors.  But we are not helpless to our poor choices. Notice I used the word allow.  Others can't make us act poorly -- that's on us.  We get to decide how we allow ourselves to react in difficult situations.

I don't know how many people I've heard say, "This is just who I am" in response to being called out on poor behavior.  As if there's nothing that can be done because it's who they are, down to their DNA wiring. And that's usually where the excuses follow: "My dad was this way", or "that person made me mad",  or "she disrespected me", "I felt lonely", or "it's the only way I've known." Think of the excuses you've heard when you've called someone out on poor behavior.  Or think of the excuses you use when someone calls you out. But reacting poorly does not need to define who we are -- it defines what we do...actions, responses, behavior.  And the good new is, behavior can be changed.

Behavioral self-control is a competency of emotional intelligence and one that has a powerful impact on the quality of our relationships. Those who are strong in behavioral self-control are able to manage their impulsive feelings, even when distressed or in trying moments.  In times of pain or conflict, they can think clearly and remain 'cool under pressure.'  They are able to restrain negative reactions that can be hurtful to themselves and others, and make the choice to not escalate the problem when attacked or provoked.

Those that struggle in this area -- which is most of us -- tend to react impulsively and respond to struggles in a non-constructive way. They tend to get involved in inappropriate situations because they don't think they can resist temptations, and become angry, depressed or agitated when faced with stresses that trigger hurt feelings.

"He who blows his top loses all his thinking matter." -- Chinese proverb

If you're one to tends to act poorly when under stressful or hurtful situations, take heart. Again, this is not who you are but how you're acting.  Making an effort to  shift ways of thinking and behaving is something we are all capable of.  Self-awareness is a good first step. Do you recognize poor behaviors in your past?  Do you recognize any trends (are you doing the same sort of things when the same sort of negative events are encircling you)?

Once you're aware and decide that you'd like to make a shift, consider asking yourself these questions to move toward more healthy reactions:

• What are my triggers? Write down the incidents and feelings that cause a negative response.  These may be the same situations in which you act on impulse, and it is good to name these.  At this point, don't try to figure out why they are hot buttons--just write them down to get them out in front of you.

• What am I feeling?  In these trigger moments, what are you feeling and where in your body are you feeling it?  Does your heart race?  Do you get a headache?  Do you feel shame?  Do you feel angry toward someone not involved in the current situation? Do you feel sick to your stomach or do your hands start to shake? Do you feel depressed or discouraged?  Start noting what you're feeling in these moments of tension.

• What am I telling myself?  Positive self-talk is vital to making a shift from poor behaviors to more constructive ones.  Note what that little voice whispers to you in the moments of stress.  Some common negative self-conversations are: "This [insert poor choice] is what I get  because I'm a bad person", "I've worked hard so I deserve [insert poor choice]", or "I always mess this up, so what does it matter if I [insert poor behavior]?" Be honest on this one -- learning to hear your negative self-talk and stopping it when it happens can help you rewrite your behavioral story.

• How do I react? Write down any typical behaviors you've engaged in when you feel those feelings and hear that negative self-talk.  Do you drink too much? Do you lash out at someone else?  Do you hide and withdraw from relationships? Do you seek out unhealthy relationships just to feel connection? Do you go shopping? Be honest with yourself and note the route you usually choose when your triggers are set off. Again, being aware of these is a great place to start.

• How do these behaviors make me feel? In the moment, poor behaviors can give us a temporary 'lift' -- but the guilt and regret that sets in shortly after often take away that high and can lead to self-loathing and depression.  Make a 2-column chart and label the first "what I do" and in the second "how I feel".  It's helpful to see the correlation between behaviors and the resulting feelings.

• What damage have I caused? Take a moment to write out the cost of the hurtful behavior.  It may be "I blew my budget again", "I had a terrible hangover", "I've ruined my chance at a promotion", or "I've broken someone's trust".  Whatever it is, the best thing at this point is to own it by recognizing damage done.

• How could I respond differently? Again we're back to choice -- we get to choose how we respond.  For each of your triggers, write out an alternative response that could potentially bring about more positive results.  Knowing there are other choices to make can help when your button is pushed next time...and there will be a next time.  Coming up with new ways of responding is a way of preparing yourself for those future struggles.

Finding a trusted friend, counselor, or coach to help you stay accountable as you embark on this new path can be a great resource. Just speaking your intentions out loud to someone can help with awareness next time it happens. You don't have to do this alone.

Finally, learn to forgive yourself. You're going to mess up -- we all do -- and even though you had good intentions on reacting better, you'll still find yourself saying or doing something you wish you hadn't have from time to time. Apologize where needed, ask yourself the above questions again, spend some time talking to  friend, coach, or counselor, then get out there and try again. Author Steve Goodier says this:

“Bring it up, make amends, forgive yourself. It sounds simple, but don’t think for a second that it is easy. Getting free from the tyranny of past mistakes can be hard work, but definitely worth the effort. And the payoff is health, wholeness and inner peace. In other words, you get your life back.”

Some hurtful actions may have greater consequences than others, and you'll have to deal with those. Poor behaviors, especially those you do on a consistent basis, can destroy friendships and break down relationships. Some relationships will need to be put to rest because some behaviors are too painful for the other person to deal with or forgive. But don't let that keep you from getting up the next morning and trying again.

Remember that making shifts in a new direction isn't something that happens overnight, and it's not easy. It's hard work, exhausting at times, and you may hit places of doubting whether or not you can ever behave any differently.  Stay in the fight. Your progress may be slow, but well worth the effort.  Your sense of self-value, knowing that you have control over how you act, is empowering and will open you up to healthier, happier relationships.  You got this.

"As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world, as in being able to remake ourselves." -- Mahatma Gandhi

Are you a trust builder or a trust breaker?

Are you someone who builds trust or someone who tears it down?

The ability to build trust is a competency of high emotional intelligence. Being trustworthy means to be ethical when working with and relating to others. It means doing the right thing even when you know no one will find out. When you are a trust builder, others have confidence that your actions are consistent with your words and know that you have their best interest at heart -- not only your own. If you are a trust builder, you demonstrate respect for others' experiences, understand the hurt that deceitfulness can cause, and bring more value to relationships than pain.

Those who are strong in this competency tend to share information about themselves and don't keep secrets. They treat others consistently and with respect, and maintain high standards of personal integrity. They maintain a lifestyle that they don't have to hide from others. When you hear them talk about something, you know that their actions will match up with their words, and you can count on them to deliver on their promises and commitments.

Those who aren't so strong in this competency aren't able to build open, candid, trusting relationships. They've most likely developed a reputation for lacking integrity, and often make promises that they do not keep.They will do what serves them best even if it means undermining another person to get what they want. They lie about little things, and lie about big things. If you ask them what their values are, you may get the 'deer in the headlights' look, as they often have troubles defining their standards in the name of being 'open-minded' or 'non-judgmental'. They tend to blame others for their mistakes and withhold information to keep them out of 'trouble.'

“Earn trust, earn trust, earn trust. Then you can worry about the rest.” --Seth Godin

It's impossible to lead without being able to build trust.  When others begin to doubt you, they will think twice about following you and question whether or not you are worth teaming up with. They will mistrust your ideas and direction, and worry that you may be putting YOUR best interests before their own.

It's true that it takes a long time to build trust but only an instant to destroy it.  One self-centered lie or act of deceit can ruin how others view you for days and months to come.

Why are some trust breakers? For many, the practice of deceit stems from deep-rooted fears...fear of being accepted, fear of being known, fear of punishment, fear of self, fear of being held to expectations, fear of letting others down, fear of being disliked, fear of being an disappointment...the list goes on and on. The thing is, we all have fears. We all want to be liked and accepted and valuable in others' eyes.  But the difference between trust builders and trust breakers is that the trust builders face their fears by understanding that honesty and authenticity are what bring about those results, where trust breakers think dishonesty will get them there. But a life of deceit won't bring about deep, meaningful relationships that we all desire.

“It is true that integrity alone won’t make you a leader, but without integrity you will never be one.”  -- Zig Ziglar

Not sure if you're a trust builder or a trust breaker?

Look over these statements, and give yourself a score for each, using this scale: 1= Always, 2=Almost always 3=Occasionally 4=Almost never 5=Never

1. I share my thoughts, feelings and decision-making rationale.
2. I am able to establish trusting relationships.
3. I am open to others' ideas and willing to be influenced by others.
4. I treat people with respect.
5. I am able to influence others as a result of talking with them.
6. I have developed a reputation for integrity.
7. I treat all people fairly.
8. I say what I believe rather than what I think people want to hear.
9. I strive to behave consistently with my expressed beliefs and values.
10. I practice what I preach.
11. I focus on solving problems rather than blaming or hiding.
12. I admit my mistakes.
13. I deliver on promises and commitments.
14. I ask others for their opinions.
15. I listen to people's thoughts, feelings, and concerns, and am able to feel empathy.
16. I solicit feedback about my performance.
17. I acknowledge the contributions and worth of others.
18. When there is a problem, I work directly with those involved to resolve it.
19. I treat people consistently.
20. I follow through on the things I commit to do, even if it's not convenient for me.

Now, add up your scores and see where you land, below:

1-20 - Your ability to build trust is high
21-40 - Your ability to build trust is moderately high
41-60 - Your ability to build trust is moderate
61-80 - Your ability to build trust has room for improvement
81-100 -  Your ability to build trust needs serious improvement

“Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.” --Stephen R. Covey

If your ability to build trust needs some work, take heart. We are talking about behavior--what you do, not who you are. Behaviors can be changed. If you would like to shift from being a trust breaker to a trust builder, here are some developmental tips to try:

• Team up with an emotional intelligence coach to help you set goals and hold you accountable as you begin this journey.
• Practice listening to others in a way that allows you to know what's on their minds and in their hearts.
• Always deliver on your commitments.  No excuses. If you are one who tends to promise then cancel --stop making the promises in the first place.
• Be emotionally available to those around you -- share the things in your heart without stretching the truth to make yourself look good.
• Never knowingly mislead or lie.  If you catch yourself doing it -- stop and admit the truth.  It's so very freeing and you'll find people respect you when you admit it in the moment.
• Articulate your values to those around you and ask them if your actions match up.
• Admit your mistakes without blame or shame.
• Get in the habit of putting others' needs in front of your own.
• Check to see if what you do in secret matches up to your public persona -- if not, in which arena are you not being true? Then ask yourself why.  Just being aware of the gap is a good start to changing behaviors.
• Forgive yourself of past mistakes.  If you've spent a lifetime lying, it's never too late to come clean and make a fresh start.

The next time you find yourself in a situation where you're not sure if you should be honest or not -- keep this in mind:

“For every good reason there is to lie, there is a better reason to tell the truth.” -- Bo Bennett

Putting aside your patterns of lying, deceiving and hiding, and stepping into the brave new world of integrity will open up the doors of opportunity for stronger, healthier relationships. Yes, it's going to take some work and effort. It may feel uncomfortable to begin to let others truly know you. You may face rejection and at times, disappoint people. But though it's can be a difficult process to shift behaviors, it's worth it. Becoming someone others can trust will help you develop the connection, both at work and in your personal life, that you need and desire.

The perfect gift

In many countries, 'tis the season for finding the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones.  It truly can be a special time of thoughtfulness and giving.

But just to mix things up, I'd like to challenge you to give a unique gift this year... one that has a great kick-back incentive. It's not a store-bought gift or one you order online, but one that comes from your social intelligence -- the ability to be aware of those around you and manage your relationship with them. This gift is empathy.

Empathy is a competency of emotional intelligence and one which can be easier to offer to some than others. Empathy is not only sensing others' feelings and perspectives, but it is showing an active interest in their concerns.

For those we care about and love, showing empathy comes easy.  When a friend is in trouble, we hurt with them and want to do what we can to help out.  But have you tried showing empathy toward those who have disappointed you or let you down?  Easier said than done.

There is no magic formula to doing this. Offering the gift of empathy toward those who are not on your "Nice" list is difficult. We naturally tend to withhold kindness toward those who've been hurtful and even can find a sense of twisted satisfaction when we choose to not forgive their wrongdoing toward us. But we all know it's us who suffers most when we choose anger and resentment. And opting not to forgive someone, to not put ourselves in their shoes and try to understand the why behind their behavior, instead skipping down the path of resentment, damages our own well-being.  In an article published by John Hopkins Medicine, Dr. Karen Swartz, M.D. at John Hopkins Hospital says this: "Chronic anger puts you into a fight-or-flight mode, which results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure and  immune response. Those changes, then, increase the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions." 
(https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy_aging/healthy_connections/forgiveness-your-health-depends-on-it)

Dr. Swartz goes on to say, in contrast, "Forgiveness, however, calms stress levels, leading to improved health." Anger toward someone who's been hurtful is normal.  It's just not a place you want to hang out for long.

Who are you holding a grudge toward or harboring anger toward?  I'm guessing someone's name came quickly to mind. Try writing down that name on a piece of paper and, for a moment, attempt to lay aside their hurtful behavior. List out all the positive things about them you can come up with. (There's no need to write down the hurtful behavior -- no doubt you've replayed that in your mind countless times!) Your list of positives might be short. That's OK. But looking at their whole person instead of focusing only on the hurtful behavior can help shift your perspective, even if just a bit. Then write down what you know of their current situation -- what are they going through? Are they lonely? Are they depressed? Are they scared, worried, or trying hard to impress others? Are they financially burdened or seem full of themselves? Are they struggling with insecurity? Most of our poor behaviors occur when we're not in a good space.  Attempting to understand their situation and offer a little understanding can have tremendous power over the anger in your heart.

"As human beings, we all have reasons for our behavior. There may be people who have certain physiological issues that dictate why they make certain choices. On the whole, though, I think we're dictated by our structure, our past, our environment, our culture. So once you understand the patterns that shape a person, how can you not find sympathy?" -- Forest Whitaker

To begin to heal, you may need to have a conversation with this person to let the know the pain they've caused. You may need to journal about it, talk with a friend, work with a coach, or see a counselor to sort things out. Whichever action you need to take to put this behind you and move on, do it. Every minute you hang on to  resentment and anger is one more minute you are robbing yourself from living a full life.

You don't have to become best friends with the person.  In fact, in situations of severe hurt, it may be best to not have contact with them if possible. But whatever your ongoing relationship with them may be, there's no need to keep replaying their destructive behavior over and over in your mind.  Why relive something so pain-filled? It happened. Past tense. No need to keep bringing it into your present. Offering a little empathy -- not in any way justifying what they did -- by attempting to understand why they did it, can help you begin to move forward again.

Offering the gift of empathy doesn't make light of the pain, nor does it give license for the person to continue to inflict damage upon you.  Forgiving someone doesn't tell them what they did was OK. It tells them that you're not going to punish them (and yourself) any longer for something in the past. It can free you from the hurt and enable you to move forward again...with or without them.  In fact, offering someone empathy isn't really for them -- it's a gift of love to yourself.  Yes, your empathetic behavior may bring about a shift in that person's mindset--but that's not your concern. Your emotions and behaviors are the only ones you can truly manage. Think of empathy as a gift you give to others which comes with an incredible kickback incentive -- healing for your heart.

Empathy is probably the most perfect gift you'll find this season. And I promise, it's a gift you'll never want to return. Why not give it a try?