I was tired from working late the day before but went into the office early to try and get some overdue actions done while it was quiet and before my staff arrived and the next 8 hours of back to back meetings started. I made the mistake of answering the phone; the male voice asked how I was and then launched into a description of some product that I had no need for at all. “How did you get this number?” I snarled at the poor man on the other end of the line. I don’t remember what he said; only that he stuttered a bit, apologized and hung up.
That was several years ago when I was in my big corporate job and so busy that I often had to choose between going to the bathroom and being late to the next meeting. It is embarrassing that I was so rude and short (not polite and nice). I now wonder if he quickly hung up and continued on with the next sales call or if my rude behavior knocked him off his stride.
It Is All About Them, Not You
If you are in sales then you know that in order to survive you have got to keep clear that a rejection is all about them, not you, and then keep focused and keep going. Hopefully that guy knew this and quickly forgot about me, figuring I was having a bad day (which I was).
But this applies to all of us; if someone is short tempered or rude to you it is all about them. It is really quite egotistical to think that it is all about me but so often we take these reactions personally.
React With Compassion & Move On
Of course, do not put up with abuse but do realize that most people who react rudely are having much bigger issues than what you are seeing. Feel some compassion and kindness if you are capable (with out putting yourself at risk) and then walk away and move on to avoid giving them any more of your energy. If it is someone close to you or who you work with then most likely they will come back and apologize later.
“People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, People may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.”
~ Mother Teresa
Unfortunately, that was not the only time that I have been rude and short tempered in my reactions to sales people or others (gasp). So, when I heard a rude reaction to a call of mine recently, I smiled and silently sent some well wishes to that person and then moved on.
Please share a comment about how you let those rude reactions slide right off of you (like Teflon)!
photo credit: Floyd Brown via Flickr creative commons
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