What’s Wrong With A Little Bit of Venting?

Mental toughness expert Jason Selk puts emotional venting in the proper perspective in his recent Forbes article.

His strategy for dealing with it can help us all be less of a burden not only to others, but – very importantly – to ourselves.

As business and professional people, we meet with a steady stream of clients and customers.

Unfortunately, not every minute of the day is a good one to see people.

Maybe a personal phone call upset us, yet then we had to greet a new prospect.

Perhaps the first appointment of the day didn’t go well, but it was followed by three others.

I know that as a life insurance salesman, it is a big challenge to not bring the “emotional residue” of one encounter into the next.

Still need to let it out

But sometimes the day catches up with you, and we need to let it out.

Our clients and customers may like to be nice and listen to our problems, but our woes are really not their business.

Besides, it is unfair to ask them to serve as a sounding board when they have other things to do.

How can prevent our emotions from getting the best of us when we are in a businesslike and professional environment?

Jason points the way. He has a neat and efficient four-point strategy for dealing with the situation.

Here is one tip that really appeals to me:

Let Emotional Discomfort Prompt Action. When we “vent,” we’re often looking for validation that what we’re thinking is true and that we’re not to blame. Most will receive that validation and be content with the fact that there’s nothing to do to improve their situation. In essence, they become complicit victims. The mentally tough, on the other hand, use their discontentment not as an excuse to vent, but as a signal that an improvement is necessary. Learn to use emotional discomfort as a cue that something needs to change. Redirect the energy you would spend venting, and ask yourself, “What is one thing I can do that could make this better?”

Take a look at Jason’s strategy. It’s a quick read.

Do you think it could work for you?

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