Member of
It is not easy to work under pressure. However, once you submit your awaited task, you feel that you may have accomplished something extraordinary.
Imagine this scenario: you are waiting for someone to finish compiling a report that you need for a meeting, as you need to finalize an urgent presentation. Because of an issue that came up, you are already 30 minutes late.
The aftermath of such a delay usually starts with your body feeling tense. You start panicking, and suddenly you yell at the person for being slow and putting you behind schedule. You are aware that the person may be hurt or feel disrespected, but you cannot help yourself if they are the reason you are behind deadline!
Being impatient is normal, especially in our industry. You should also know that it does not only hurt you, but those around you as well.
In order to combat the negative effects that come with impatience, here are a few important points to note:
In an ever-changing industry like PR, you do not want to brand yourself as an impatient person, as it can also be construed by others as arrogance, insensitivity, or impulsive behavior. Often times, we find that irrational judgments can interrupt the workflow of others or create a bad atmosphere around the office. Unfortunately, the side-effects of impatience can be far-reaching in our industry, as it could lead to avoidance by colleagues for fear of suffering the wrath of a bad temper.
People with these personality traits are unlikely to be promoted to leadership positions. The more patient you are with others, the more likely you are to have a positive attitude towards work and life.
Think back to the last time you were impatient. Try to understand what may have caused it, and allocate a plan to fix it.
Ask the people in your circle of trust, such as family, friends, or co-workers for honest feedback, no matter how shocking it might be – this technique could actually help. Often times, we don’t perceive ourselves in the same manner that others do, and the only way to fix a character flaw is to hear the uncensored truth from a close confidante.
It is important to note that the causes of impatience are not solely attributable to issues at work. Since the body and mind are directly connected, an impatient demeanor and bad temper could also be caused by dehydration, hunger, or fatigue. This is why healthy living, taking care of your nutrition, getting enough sleep, and taking breaks or “time-outs” from work are crucial to success with the people around you.