Have you ever found yourself in a moment where your overwhelming emotions compelled you to speak impulsively, something you look back on with regret?-Every word you say and every reaction you show depicts how you are as an individual and your actions will decide where you will be in the future, right?
Sometimes you may be indecisive about whether to vent your anger immediately or take a moment to process the situation. To make a wise choice between responding and reacting, you need to dive into this blog.
How does reacting differ from responding?
Reacting is driven by instant emotions while responding is a more conscious and thoughtful approach to dealing with any situation.
A responsive attitude helps anyone to be in a thoughtful state where there is no room for immature behavior. But a reactive attitude can push anyone into a hole from which there is no way to come out with a thoughtful solution or idea.
Now the question comes, why do people react? Immediate relief, emotional triggers, habits, psychological factors, and most importantly uncontrolled emotions are mainly responsible for some people being too reactive despite knowing that immediate reaction can worsen the situation.
Why Should You Respond Rather Than React?
Even though there are many ways people can benefit from a responsive attitude, some of the key reasons for choosing responsive behavior over-reactive behavior are:
Making Stronger Relationships
Reaction can weaken any relationship while responding in the right way strengthens any relationship, be it professional or personal. Because of your positive attitude, people may feel a deep connection with you which will strengthen your relationships with your colleagues, family, and relatives.
Better Problem Solving
By thinking about any problem logically and analytically, you can come up with the best solutions to solve that problem no matter how difficult the situation is! This is the power of responding. But the immediate reaction will not give you even a moment to articulate the problem let alone solve it.
Building Reputation
Your reputation will be skyrocketing if you can prove yourself to be a sensible person. People like to communicate and praise those personalities who are likely not to be reactive negatively.
Personal Growth
Being a person who is patient, analytical, and responsive at the same time can push you to ride the ladder of personal growth efficiently. On the flip side, a reactive personality will make the journey of self-growth even more challenging.
Professional Success
Do you want to be at the peak of the mountain of the professional summit? Choose to be responsive rather than reactive. Showing a responsible attitude in professional life is almost always appreciated.
How Do You Master the Art of Responding?
You can follow the following five tips for effectively responding to any situation.
Take a short break and then Breathe
If you feel emotionally drained, just take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down. This will turn a potential irrational behavior into a measured response. Taking a pause will help you observe a situation from a vigilant point of view.
Think Before Speaking
When you have a clear idea about what you want, you have to be very conscious of what you are saying. Be thoughtful before reacting aggressively to something.
Active Listening
Active listening will help you think about any situation from another’s point of view and thus you can thoughtfully analyze any situation by understanding other’s opinions as well.
Being Aware of Your Trigger Points
Have you ever noticed what words, situations, or behaviors trigger you? If not, you should! Being aware of your trigger points will help you tackle any circumstances with patience and utmost calmness in the future.
Using “I” Statements
“I did not understand the concept” and “you could not make me understand the concept”-in between these two sentences, which one is more offensive towards the other person? The one that started with “You” seems to make the other person blamed directly, right? This is what you should avoid doing! Using “I” statements is most effective in dealing with negative situations.
Mastering the art of responding takes a lot of effort! It requires dedication, strong will, and effort to control your emotions in a way that prevents you from reacting quickly without understanding the situation or the problem. Unlike a reactive attitude, a responsive attitude doesn’t put us into any embarrassing situation.
As a responsive approach is far better than a reactive approach, we should practice being responsive in any situation, no matter how difficult the situation is. We should keep in mind that our way of communication conveys a clear message of what we are.
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Writer
Taspia
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE.