What do you think — are you ready to stop complaining? Since you’re spending this week learning how to make powerful requests, why not set an intention that you will, right here and right now, stop complaining… forever?
Okay, I know. Forever can seem a bit scary. Then how about just trying it out for the rest of this program? Give it a think: are you even just the tiniest bit excited about what it might be like to eliminate complaining from your day?
Not feeling it? As a recap, complaining could be costing you and keeping you out of the game in the following ways:
- Complaining renders you less effective at driving your outcomes and delivering success in the world.
- Complaining instead of figuring out what you want and asking for it leaves you frustrated by your unmet expectations.
- Complaining instead of making requests leads to interpersonal conflict with colleagues because you’ve not given them clear criteria to satisfy you… so they don’t.
- Complaining often leads to projects going off the rails due to execution flaws because ownership or accountability were not made clear; deadlines were not specified; project scope wasn’t understood by all; and so on.
- Complaining can damage your professional credibility and reputation because of its effect on your ability to lead.
Still on the fence?
Think of a situation you aren’t happy with. If you’ve been stuck in complaining about it, consider whether complaining has brought about the results you want.
As you think about this, it might help to ask:
Has complaining left me feeling more negative than I was to begin with?
Has complaining energized me or solved anything?
Has complaining made me feel more “executive” (see Week 4: Executive Presence — Bringing it)?
Look, we all complain. It’s human. But by experimenting with doing it a whole lot less and channeling that energy into making clear requests, my expectation is you will dramatically increase your levels of effectiveness and satisfaction.