I want to share an idea that another professional coach and close personal friend of mine had. We were up in Vermont a few weeks ago doing a little skiing, and one of the things I like to do when I visit my buddy Peter, is I like to trade ideas or concepts that we share with our clients.
I overheard Peter talking to one of his clients while we were actually waiting for a Trombone Shorty concert to start. Peter and this guy, were talking about the right attitude and the way you can change your attitude by changing a word. The example that I'm about to share with you, is pretty quick, it's pretty simple, but it's not short on power.
It's an amazing choice if you decide to make it. This client of Peter said he had to deal with someone that was a little bit uncomfortable. This person and his client just didn't seem to see eye to eye about things, and it had been a conflict to communicate effectively with this other person, and so I overheard him say, the guy's name is Ben. Ben said, “Peter, I got to tell you something. You gave me that idea of word choice and I gave it a try. And it was an amazing difference.” And it's really simple. So here it is. He said “instead of my attitude being, I have to work with this person”, he said, “I made one choice. I get to work with this person.”
Instead of it having a negative connotation on what the experience was about to be, by changing from have to to get to, Ben's entire outlook on the experience changed, which made a collaborative environment so much healthier and so much more powerful. Instead of having to tolerate it, Ben said he consciously heard himself saying, “I get to make decisions with you. I get to exchange ideas with you. I get to be challenged by yours, your ideas being different than mine.”
I just thought that was an amazingly simple but amazing, early, brilliant concept. I thought, what a great thing to share for a Fast Tip Friday. A great place to try it is at home with your family…
I have to deal with the kids…. NOPE… I get to deal with the kids.
I have to go out and mow the lawn…. NOPE…. I get to go out and mow the lawn and get some exercise.
The options are endless. Outcomes can be limitless. The only thing you have to do is be aware. Make a choice. Give it a chance. Thanks for checking out this week’s Fast Tip Friday.
I get to share this information with you and I never feel like I have to.
