Wait until you understand that you are just an option, not a priority like you thought.

We all want to be a better leader.

I'm going to share just one important strategy that can not only improve your emotional intelligence and leadership skills, but it can also develop and enhance many areas of your professional and personal life. This can help you immensely to become a better leader, colleague, husband, wife, parent, friend, etc.

Here’s what you need to practice.

Go back to a memory that sticks with you and think about it in a different way. Think about it from another perspective and break it down differently.

We are obviously wired to have an opinion on our pre-existing memories. When we look back at these memories, we can be passionate and somewhat stubborn about what we remember.

There are hundreds of memories I have when I look back, I could have handled better. I recall arguing my points like a narrow-minded twit.

If I say to you, think about a white elephant, an image immediately comes to mind. I can guarantee there is not one human on the planet that has the exact thought and image as you.

Let’s take it one step further. Let’s say you saw a white elephant. There is still not a human on the planet that will have the exact same memory as you.

Why?

Perspective.

We are all extremely biased and highly primitive. In a lot of scenarios, you will find there is not a truth, just an interpretation.

You are not always right in negative circumstances. This might be uncomfortable to hear, it might also make you defensive. If this is you, it may take you longer to appreciate or understand.

When you reflect specifically on challenging moments or memories, it’s not about the negative stuff not being valid. Your perspectives or perception is your reality. What I am saying is if you can start to train yourself to go back and open your mind or explore other perspectives for those hard memories, you can start to see through a different lens and change your behavior moving forward.

I’m not a therapist, and I’m not referring to perspective of trauma. But there is a wheelbarrow of shit you can certainly think of with a different point of view in a more positive way.

If you can do this, you are one step closer to improving your communication and relationships in the workplace and at home.

Even better, see what happens when conflict arises. Easily diffused.

It’s also an effective way to open your mind and become stoic conditioned.