Page 61 - Getting to the Heart of High Performance
P. 61
Most people fail to realize how predictable human
beings actually are. Likewise, most of us are unaware of
how much we personally shape other people’s emotions
and behavior. To be truthful about it, we really don’t like
the idea that misbehavior, meanness, or poor perform-
ance on the part of others could be happening because
of us. That would put us in the inconvenient position of
needing to change ourselves. But like it or not, each of
us is a force in the lives of those around us. We have an
effect on the people we encounter, and each of us is
accountable for whether our presence proves to be for
better or for worse. Even when we’re not to blame for
other people’s shortcomings, we can produce big
improvements in them by maintaining positive behavior
in our half of the relationship.
Why go to the trouble? Because the old saying is true:
“What goes around comes around.” Being a positive influ-
ence on others contributes to our own effectiveness and
well-being. If you make an effort to build other people’s
deep strengths, you’re bound to develop your own.
The Heart of the Matter: Action-Reaction Behavior Cycles 45
