Be it professional, social, marital, familial, many relationships enter auto cruise mode because the parties only hear themselves but don't truly listen to what is being said. Many times, what is not being said is louder than what is being said but we apply the wrong medication to the right ailment when we think we know the answer but did not listen to understand the question.
Be it your health, career, marriage, or your social circles, some difficult questions are meant to be answered honestly, even if only to yourself and in your closet at the moment of truth.
What you consider your best idea may not catch the fancy of the next fellow, not because it is not a good idea but because he's seeing it from a broader or narrower lens. That his idea at that moment sounds stupid does not make him a stupid man. You can question the rationality of his idea without questioning the human in him, nor the brain in his skull. Be proud of your choice but don't disrespect others for their preference.
Young or old on the corporate ladder, anticipation can be a dangerous limitation to your courage to take tough decisions in your career progression. Resist the temptation to reduce your life aspirations to short term wins because of immediate comfort and fear of the unknown. The real threat you should dread is the fear of stagnation.
To say that office politics has only one face is to say that a coin is one sided. That is not true. If anyone has ever been a victim of office politics, it is unlikely that I will encourage the person to do a tooth for a tooth for reasons I will explain shortly.
Communication is more art than science because it is more subjective than objective. The diversity in human nature reinforces the admonition that you should be quick to hear but slow to speak. In other words, listen more and speak less, particularly when you forge a new relationship, the intricacies of which you are yet to master.
Before you dissociate yourself from politics, I implore you to research the expanded meaning of politics. Any activity you involve in that is aimed at improving your status or increasing your power and influence in an organisation is politics. Not many want to be called a politician but we all play politics.
For best results, both fast thinkers and deep thinkers are a must have in any setting. There are specific times when you need speed to stay in the race. To remain in the race requires not just speed but speed and accuracy. The first ideas are not necessarily the best ideas. Think about it.
Wellness is more than physical well being. It includes spiritual, emotional, social and mental health. Sometimes, the answer to the treatment we seek is in our approach to life and not in the hand of any medical practitioner or any pill we are made to chew to reclaim what we lost by the choices we make.
The world is in dire need of transformative thinkers who can create something out of nothing. The society is no longer patient with stereotypes. Beyond the certificates, ‘what can you do?’ is the new kid on the block. It stems more from what you have learned than what you scored. A society is as rich as the depth of diverse ideas. The job of an intellectual is to provoke conversations.
Akin is an inspirational writer and author. He has published three books. He is a teacher and trainer. Through his daily teachings, he has helped a lot of people discover their potential.