Stop, Take A Breath, Make A Call

There is always a bigger picture. If we take a step back and pay attention to the details, we can learn much more about the situation, and what would be the best way to act or react to it.

This bigger picture is not always apparent, especially when you are under pressure, having to make more than one decision at the same time. The more we go deeper into the decision making process, the more elusive the bigger picture becomes. It’s like looking at a landscape through a straw.

This is why it is important to stop, go back to a 10,000 feet altitude, think ahead, and then make a decision. When you stop and calmly look at the whole picture, you can begin to see what’s important and needs to be prioritized. Once you get the big picture, determine the highest priority one and go execute it.

Think about it: responding vs. reacting.

Reaction is something that happens fast, instantly, and without much thought or context. It’s an impulse, it’s a primal thought, and it’s very instinctive. This can help you survive in matters of life and death, for sure, but during everyday activities, or in high stress situations, it can have unexpected results and side effects.

Response, on the other hand, is a thought out and measured action. It’s a slower process that allows you to see what may happen on every turn, analyzing the steps needed for a successful outcome. This enables small adjustments (or big ones) before action is set in motion, and sometimes during that action.

The act of responding is a balanced one. As we slow down a bit and think things through, we can consult with our own past experiences, or, better, with other people, and gain a sense of whether the solution is a good one.

What do we need, then, to turn a reaction into a response?

First, understand what are the red flags telling you that you are missing the bigger picture. Often these flags come in the form of stress, some other times as the inability to move forward with something. When you feel stuck, that’s when you need to assess whether you are reacting or responding.

Second, break. Pause and remove yourself from the situation. Look at the problem or situation from all angles, and then make a decision. Look at the actions you are trying to perform and see if they are part of the original plan, or something that has been happening ad-hoc. Understand whether there are new variables to the whole situation. Ask yourself questions like: did anything change? Am I working on the right things? Is there a bigger priority I need to focus on first? Response will follow after that. Once you have a good look at the entire situation you can move and reorganize all the pieces. Remember, it is harder to see the whole forest from the ground level. You have to go high, then you can see the entire area.

Say it to yourself often: stop, take a breath, make a call.

The more you do this, the quicker your ability to detach youself from the situation, and the better the decisions you will make.