Coaching Corner: Yes...no...maybe?
By Marilou Butcher Roth, Master Coach
We are all in a position at different times, of being asked to do something that requires a response of yes or no. If you are a regular reader of my posts, you will have undoubtedly found this topic surfacing more than once over the past ten years. And, it is one of those topics that proves beneficial to repeat. So many people jump to a “yes," not wanting to let someone down, or to present themselves in their best possible light. Is your yes a true yes?
What if you allowed yourself the luxury of not giving an immediate response? How harmful would it be to make a request to get back to the person by a designated time (and then do it)?
This gives you some space to tune into whether or not their request is in alignment with you, and sometimes that can be tricky to identify.
You can begin the process by asking yourself why you might want to do whatever it is. How might it impact your life, etc. Is it a want or a should? Does the request require time, if so, how much, and is that time something you have, and wish to spend? Of course, these questions will vary depending on the request.
You can also come at this from the opposite direction -- what if you said no? How does that play out? How does it feel?
All of these questions can be quite helpful in clarifying for yourself when to agree to something and when to pass, knowing that if you do pass, you can do it gracefully.
Today, pay attention to possible requests of you and see if you can put this post into play!
Marilou Butcher Roth
Marilou Butcher Roth is the owner of The MBR Group, a coaching and training company working primarily with REALTORS who have a desire to work and live from a more inspired place. She is also the Broker/Owner of Group REALTORS in Cincinnati.
Marilou is a member of the Ohio REALTORS Board of Directors and past chairman of the organization’s Communications Committee.
