“Spend less time trying to meet other people’s expectations because most time other people’s expectations are going to be in conflict with your expectations.”
-The Daily Coach
Do you ever catch yourself focusing on the wrong kind of work especially when it is something based on someone else’s expectations instead of yours? I know I have and used to do it all of the time until I finally recognized it and ensured ways in which to avoid these same pitfalls in the future. When you think of being more socially aware it is important to be cognizant that any of these elements we discuss: Self Awareness, Self Management, Social Awareness, Relationships Skills and Responsible Decision Making, they are never isolated areas of focus. They will also lead towards connections to the one another, sometimes a one to one connection and other times multiple connections.
In this instance, today’s quote focuses on spending less time trying to meet other people’s expectations because it will most likely conflict with yours. And they are right. However, this does not mean there will be no connection between your expectations and theirs. It just won’t be an exact match and it shouldn’t be. To work through this problem, one must be self aware as to what your expectations are and compare it to theirs. Figure out and attempt a compromise between the two or at least a happy medium. This will lean upon your decision making skills and may have short or long term effects to your relationship with them depending on what the situation is and what sort of significant impact it will have in the grand scheme of things.
The key thing to remember is to try and avoid being dismissive right away if that square peg of theirs does not coincide with the round hole of yours. Look at things and their expectations through their perspective and their why as to the source of their thinking. Then do the same for yours. Look for patterns and a common ground. More often than not there is one if you take the time to look hard enough.
What does this quote mean to you and how can you apply today’s message towards becoming more socially aware?
Becoming The Change 