Episode 88 - Identify What is Right
In seminars, I sometimes flash onto the screen 3 simple additions, including 5 + 5 = 11. I ask the audience, “What do you see here?” Most people holler back, “One is wrong!” Only twice has someone stated – and I remember because it is so rare — “Two are right!” My point is that in American culture, it is normal to focus on what is wrong instead of right. I’m not saying it’s healthy to celebrate a 66% success rate, but maybe we are too hasty to point out mistakes, because in a fast changing world, pounding the mistakes stifles creativity. And it can kill enthusiasm.
I presented a seminar for the U.S. Navy and sure enough, the audience was fast to tell me one was wrong. We discussed it, then a young officer shared with us that his son was so thrilled to be going to first grade that for days he kept asking, “Is tomorrow when I start school?” The first few days of school were great. With excitement he told his parents about the teacher and kids and cool stuff they learned. Then he came home dejected and didn’t want to talk about it. Crumpled up in his lunchbox his mother found a quiz; in red the teacher had written “-3.” The boy’s enthusiasm was never as bright. The young officer said to us, “For the love of God, why couldn’t she have written +7?”
Anyone can find fault. Be smart. Look for opportunities to praise their successes!