Bookmark Website  | Free Registration  | The Team
The Lounge  | Champions  | The Wire |  Schedule |  Audio  |  Arcade  |  The Top Ten  |  Historical  |  Email  |  Video

How To Become More Patient


"Lord give me patience - and hurry!"

Have you ever prayed this prayer? You've had plenty of opportunities to, haven't you? I don't know about you, but I tend to overestimate what I can accomplish in the hours I have, and underestimate the hassles that will accompany those tasks that seemed simple when I took them on. Patience is an essential skill for both organizational leaders and team members.

The good news is?patience can be learned.

The bad news is?patience is only learned through opportunities to practice it!

THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENCE

Why is patience so important in the Magnetic Workplace? As you well know, hassles are the stuff of which daily schedules are made. The ability to stay calm and to adjust quickly when plans are thwarted is a necessary tool in every individual's repertoire of coping skills.

A manager's patience is especially important. If a person in a leadership role blows up easily, everyone else will be "invited" to do the same. Patience is also essential as the manager coaches and develops people. Growth does not occur in a smooth, upward pathway. Even in the best of cases, there are setbacks, disappointments, and struggles. There will be occasions in which the manager has invested time and energy into a team member, only to have him or her bail out or even betray the leader.

Everyone's patience is challenged when major organizational changes are attempted. An organizational culture is a powerful force, and positive changes in the system take time. (It seems, unfairly, that negative changes can occur almost instantly!)

FIVE STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING PATIENCE

1. Become more realistic in your expectations. "Stuff happens", and the sooner we acknowledge that, the more accurately we can plan the tasks in our lives. Optimism is good, but unrealistic optimism about uninterrupted smooth sailing can sabotage the completion of important tasks. Expect and plan for delays, complications, and setbacks. You'll be better prepared if they happen, and delighted if they don't!

2. View setbacks as temporary. Research shows that the most resilient people are able to view problems as temporary. They often use the adage, "This, too, shall pass."

3. Keep the mentality of the problem-solver, not the victim. The theme song of people with the victim mentality is, "Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me." They see themselves as unfortunate pawns of negative forces and other people who control their destinies. Problem-solvers, on the other hand, look at negative situations to discover what they can do. They are able to distinguish the things over which they have control vs. the things that they can't change. Within the conditions they face, they stay involved and active in doing the little things that make a difference. They work especially diligently in keeping their own internal reactions positive and constructive.

4. Reject bitterness. Bitterness is the result of anger that is not resolved. It's a killer?psychologically, relationally, and physically! Bitter people are anything but patient. They have short fuses, overreacting when even unrelated situations remind them of the person or event they resent. Resolve conflicts promptly, and/or choose to forgive and move on!

5. Remember your successes in other difficult situations. When you find yourself in a mess that seems unending, and you wonder if you'll ever make it?take heart! Remember that you've been in tough situations before, and you're still here. Recall times that looked impossible, but you found a way. Have faith that this time will be no exception.

Dr. Bev Smallwood is a psychologist who has worked with organizations across the globe for over 20 years. Her high-energy, high-content, high-involvement Magnetic Workplaces (r) programs provide dozens of practical strategies and skills that can be put to work immediately to:

  • build strong leaders who influence and develop others through serving;

  • energize, motivate, and retain team members;

  • successfully accomplish important organizational transitions; and

  • impress customers and build their loyalty.

  • Review a complete list of her programs available for your convention or corporate meeting at the website, www.MagneticWorkplaces.com.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Washington Post

    Facing Raiders on national TV will serve as motivation Thursday
    San Diego Union Tribune, CA - 52 minutes ago
    And while they technically do, they also are searching for other reasons to be up for Thursday night's game against Oakland (and the three that follow it), ...
    CHARGERS NOTES: LT calls on teammates to finish strong North County Times
    Matchups: Falcons at Chargers SportingNews.com
    Five things to watch: Falcons-Chargers San Diego Union Tribune
    all 638 news articles


    Dawgs digging deep to find last-game motivation
    Seattle Post Intelligencer - Dec 1, 2008
    Finding motivation figures to be a challenge for a squad coming off a 16-13 double-overtime loss in its rivalry game. Willingham insisted he won't use his ...
    UW to get close look at Jeff Tedford Seattle Times
    all 17 news articles


    Thousands descend on Austin Convention Center for motivation seminar
    KVUE, TX - 10 hours ago
    By QUITA CULPEPPER Organizers say it's a way to get inspired and find the secret to your success, while hearing from a dream team of successful politicians ...


    Times Online

    Barry reveals England motivation
    SkySports - 17 hours ago
    By Chris Burton Last updated: 2nd December 2008 Gareth Barry admits that four years in the international wilderness made him all the more determined to earn ...
    BARRY: WILDERNESS IS MOTIVATION Sportinglife.com
    all 652 news articles


    Sify

    OPEC Cuts: A Barrel Of Laughs
    Forbes, NY - Dec 1, 2008
    "The major motivation for sellers is the discounting of the OPEC decision," said Mike Fitzpatrick, vice president of MF Global, in a report, "but motivation ...
    Oil prices dive after OPEC holds output unchanged AFP
    all 2,628 news articles


    5ones

    If Ever There Was Motivation Not to Finish College…
    5ones, CA - 6 hours ago
    Albi Sole, program co-ordinator for Public Avalanche Awareness Programs at the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre, has just put the finishing touches on ...


    Examiner.com

    Movement Fuels Motivation
    Examiner.com - 15 hours ago
    by KT Erwin, Tampa Bay Weight Loss Examiner Motivation and movement are the dynamic duo of weight loss and healthy living. Getting back to the Times Turkey ...


    Aerosmith’s Dream On is Raghu Dixit’s mantra for motivation
    Indian Express, India - 17 hours ago
    For me, a classic is something like Aerosmith’s Dream On. It’s been over 15 years since I first heard the track when my friends got me to listen to it. ...


    Overflow crowds come to Downtown Austin to get motivated
    CBS 42, TX - 4 hours ago
    We’re officially in a recession and in this kind of economy people need motivation and skills more than ever before,” said the Executive VP of “Get ...
    Get Motivated keeps price low in tough economy Austin American-Statesman
    Get Motivated seminar, not your ordinary pep talk News 8 Austin
    Heavy downtown traffic possible Tuesday morning News 8 Austin
    all 6 news articles


    News 8 Austin

    Thousands of locals look to 'Get Motivated'
    News 8 Austin, TX - 1 hour ago
    Finding the motivation to excel in times like these can be tough, but Central Texan Lucia Cordoba, along with more than 20000 people, hoped to find ...

    Motivation - Google News


    Advertisement



    Section Site Map - Submit News - Feedback - Comments - Advertise with Us

    Copyright © 2006 Luminati Inc. All rights reserved.