Be careful not to get caught in the grip of disruptive emotion. You can’t make good decisions with bad information, and sometimes emotions give you bad information. This is because there are three things that a disruptive emotion doesn’t want: precision, patience, or perspective. A disruptive emotion doesn’t want precision. It doesn’t care about the facts…
You’ve heard it said many times: Building a healthy relationship takes work. You don’t get the relationships you want; you get the relationships you build. You also know that communication is the heart of a healthy relationship. However, even though we know this to be true, we sometimes fail to communicate the way we should,…
Emotions are a powerful force in your life. When it comes to shaping your decisions and actions, emotions are a factor that affect you every bit as much as thinking. Your mindset — your emotional state — is your choice. You can create a mindset that helps you, or you can allow a mindset that…
Here are three dangerous (and common) traps we must be careful to avoid. These traps are common and easy to fall into. Why? Because we are attracted to things that look good; we are stimulated by things that feel good; and we desire things that we think will make us look good. Avoiding these traps…
Everyone has a circle of influence. That is to say, everyone has people around them who shape and influence what they think and what they do. It is a simple rule for an effective life: You are the company you keep. An oft-used quote says, “You are the average of the five people you spend…
Wherever it is found, poor listening does great damage to communication and the effective exchange of information and ideas. Poor listening hinders the sharing of thoughts and feelings. It weakens organizational culture and undermines performance. It cripples teamwork and collaboration. It sabotages marriage and parenting. Poor listening damages any relationship, personal or professional. Better listening,…
We all come with a factory setting, complete with a strong self-orientation that places each of us at the center of our own universe. Because of this natural self-orientation, ego is an easy trap to fall into. Best-selling author Ryan Holliday makes this observation: “Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, your worst enemy already lives…
Success requires you to think and make wise choices in response to the real-world situations you face every day. However, navigating life and work in our complex, ever-changing world can be messy and difficult. For that reason, it is imperative to continually develop and cultivate your thinking and decision-making skills. There are four foundational elements…
How do you respond when someone disagrees with you? Do you have intellectual curiosity? Are you open to other perspectives and ideas? Are you willing to have your point of view and assumptions challenged? Do you engage in respectful discussion and debate about issues? Wise people aren’t afraid of different opinions and perspectives. They welcome…
Courage is an essential attribute in The R Factor tool box. The word “courage” derives from the Latin word for heart, and means “strength of heart.” Courage is the result of being clear about the values you want at the heart of your life and then living your values. It is when your commitment to…