For certain things in life we may decide ‘I will not do this!’ I call this a 100%-Decision. The beauty about this is that once you have made the decision, you never ever have to waste time thinking about it again, as you have made your decision already. At the same time, it will create the impression of you being a person ‘Who clearly knows what he / she wants’. Call it firmness or assertiveness. And in the professional life that is certainly something to your credit.
Three examples from my experience:
Sometimes staff wants to discuss or gossip about another colleague. My answer based on my 100%-Decision was always: ‘I do not express my (maybe sometimes critical) opinion about another colleague towards you. Unless you have an issue to settle with your colleague and you need my help. In this case, let’s call your colleague and we will discuss the issue together.’
During my earlier trips in Asia, customer entertainment was very high on the agenda and typically that involved also heavy drinking of hard liquor. Though I don’t mind to have a drink in good company, heavy drinking, especially drinks being ‘pushed’ on to me is not to my liking. Rejecting to have a drink with customers, at least in certain business environments, was also a bit tricky at that time. So, I made my 100%-Decision. And I always said, trying to sound a bit funny: ‘I don’t drink hard liquor. I am German. We Germans only drink beer.’ As I said it in a categorical manner, this was always accepted. The dinner was equally relationship building, and considering that beer has much less alcohol content than hard liquor it was certainly a better option saving me a lot of headaches and is also comparatively ‘healthier’.
Another one or my 100%-Decisions. When I make a mistake or make a fool of myself I do apologize. Typically that ‘clears the air’ and somehow closes the subject, contributing to a better relationship.
Three examples from my experience:
Sometimes staff wants to discuss or gossip about another colleague. My answer based on my 100%-Decision was always: ‘I do not express my (maybe sometimes critical) opinion about another colleague towards you. Unless you have an issue to settle with your colleague and you need my help. In this case, let’s call your colleague and we will discuss the issue together.’
During my earlier trips in Asia, customer entertainment was very high on the agenda and typically that involved also heavy drinking of hard liquor. Though I don’t mind to have a drink in good company, heavy drinking, especially drinks being ‘pushed’ on to me is not to my liking. Rejecting to have a drink with customers, at least in certain business environments, was also a bit tricky at that time. So, I made my 100%-Decision. And I always said, trying to sound a bit funny: ‘I don’t drink hard liquor. I am German. We Germans only drink beer.’ As I said it in a categorical manner, this was always accepted. The dinner was equally relationship building, and considering that beer has much less alcohol content than hard liquor it was certainly a better option saving me a lot of headaches and is also comparatively ‘healthier’.
Another one or my 100%-Decisions. When I make a mistake or make a fool of myself I do apologize. Typically that ‘clears the air’ and somehow closes the subject, contributing to a better relationship.
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