Control your “R”

If we’ve chatted recently, you probably heard me talk about a formula that I have become slightly obsessed with. That formula is E+R=O. Where “E” is an event that is out of your control (which, by the way, all events are out of your control) and “O” is the desired outcome. The “R” is the most important letter of this equation because it’s the only thing in your control. In this equation, the “R” represents your response to the event.

Employees and organizations rise and fall depending on their “R.” Employees and organizations that are intentional, purposeful, and skillful in their “R” expect to be successful, solve problems, navigate challenges and obstacles, and produce superior results. Employees and organizations that are impulsive, reactionary, and resistant struggle to achieve success.

The bad news is that we don’t come automatically programmed to control our “R” in every situation. We are human beings filled with complex emotions and those emotions are very powerful. It is our instinct to react based on emotion, but we all know emotional reactions usually don’t help facilitate a positive “O.”

The good news is that there are hundreds of opportunities to practice and develop your “R.” A client meeting didn’t go well? The easy, emotional “R” is to get mad and blame the client for being a jerk. The productive “R” is to debrief the meeting and determine why it didn’t go well, where could you have done better? Someone else at work got recognized for doing a great job but you didn’t? The easy, emotional “R” is to get jealous, mad, and let it ruin your day. The productive “R” is to be happy for your co-worker because you know they worked hard.

Here is the kicker…your “R” is an “E” for others. In every situation you face, both in your professional life and your personal life, you get the choice in how you respond. No one forces you to respond in a negative or positive way. The choice is yours! Give other people a great “E” by controlling your “R.”

Until next time…we are Advoco, make every minute count.

About Dale: As our Executive Director of Human Resources, Dale is the powerhouse behind helping our team grow. He graduated from USC-Upstate (but considers himself a Dayton Flyer). He has over twelve years of HR experience in a variety of industries, focused primarily on talent acquisition and organizational development. Dale is passionate about challenging himself, and when he’s not in the office, he’s training for his next big race. Each year he picks a different race to compete in. In the past it has been mostly running events, but this year is all about biking, he just completed a 75 mile relay from Asheville, SC to Greenville, SC. Questions? Send Dale an email!

#DaleThrush #ControlYourR #Attitude