Welcome to another episode of the Remarkable Leadership Podcast! In this episode, Kevin Eikenberry poses a thought-provoking question: "How personally do I take things?" Join Kevin as he delves into the effects of taking things personally and shares practical strategies to help you handle such situations more effectively. Whether you're a leader or simply looking to improve your communication skills, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable advice.

Key Points Discussed:

Reflecting on Personal Reactions: Kevin begins by asking listeners to ponder their own experiences with taking things personally and the impact it has on conversations and relationships.
The Consequences of Defensiveness: How defensiveness can derail communication and lead to misunderstandings.
Strategies to Manage Personal Reactions:
- Assume Positive Intent: Start by believing that others have good intentions, even if it’s hard to see.
- Assume Benign Intent: If positive intent is too difficult, consider that their actions may not be about you at all.
- Focus on Your Response: Sometimes it's best to not worry about their intent and concentrate on how you respond.
- Take a Deep Breath: A simple deep breath can help you stay calm and avoid a defensive reaction.
- Remove Yourself Temporarily: When necessary, step away from the situation to cool down and revisit the conversation later.
- Ask Clarifying Questions: Stay curious and ask questions to understand the other person's perspective better.
- Focus on Learning: Shift your focus to what you can learn from the feedback, even if you don’t agree with it.
Final Thoughts: Kevin emphasizes that while these strategies can be challenging, they are ultimately helpful in improving communication and relationships.

Subscribe and Learn More: If you found this episode helpful, consider subscribing to Kevin's email newsletter, "Your Remarkable Day." It’s a short, insightful newsletter sent out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to help you start your day on a positive note. https://kevineikenberry.com/newseltters

Remarkable Reminder: Defensiveness doesn’t help communication, trust, or relationships. Be careful not to assume everything is a personal slight.

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How Personally Do I Take Things? - Thoughts from Kevin

The Remarkable Leadership Podcast