Respond and React

Test

People  ask, “Isn’t Responding and Reacting the same thing?” Actually, though  the words are similar, the difference is significant. For example, as  Zig Ziglar asks, “did you respond well to the medication your doctor  prescribed, or did you have a bad reaction?”

Here’s  a look at the difference between those two concepts. Recently I was  pulling into a parking space. Being too hurried, and not paying  attention as I should have, I didn’t notice that the car parked in the  next space had a man coming out of it. I braked in plenty of time, but  it gave the man a start. He immediately looked at me in a way that  communicated true anger.

He  reacted. Who could blame him? Now I had a choice; would I react to his  reaction? … or would I respond, thereby diffusing an otherwise  uncomfortable (and potentially nasty) situation, and hopefully turning a  potential enemy into a friend? I chose to respond. I immediately raised  my hand with a sincere smile and mouthed, “Sorry, my fault.”

He  then responded with a smile and a wave of his own. Funny thing is, when  I got out of my car, his words to me were actually, “Sorry, I should  have looked before getting out of my car.” Can you believe that??!!

I  see two results to that situation; One is that a potential (and too  typical) argument turned into a friendly exchange.

Secondly, next time  he is in a similar situation, there’s a good chance he will respond  instead of react, turn a potential enemy into a friend, and begin his  own chain reaction of kindness and friendship.

-- Personal Marketing Tip By Bob Burg