If you’re anything like me, you probably struggle with patience from time to time. I can say with certainty that patience is definitely not one of my strong suits. Developing patience is critical in business, however, because success, or anything else worth achieving, doesn’t happen overnight. It is going to take a lot of time and a long journey to get there- one filled with many pitfalls and setbacks along the way.
Patience is critical in many aspects of business and life. You need patience to deal with clients, collaborate with team members, accomplish objectives, and to execute new ideas. As an entrepreneur and business coach, I must pull on my patience all the time (even when I don’t feel like it). There are many days when there are snags with product development, or when someone doesn’t get back to me as quickly as I’d like. There are also a number of things that are just plain out of my control, and I get frustrated waiting on them, wondering why I have to wait at all. In those moments, I must lean into my patience even more.
I also find that patience is critical when dealing with colleagues or clients that aren’t on the same page. Sometimes we know that other people are heading in the wrong direction but must use tact (and patience) to let them figure it out on their own. It’s our job as business professionals to display fortitude as they close those gaps.
If you’re like me, and also struggle in this regard, try the following strategies to fine-tune your patience:
- Pause before making key decisions or reactions. Take some time to really think about your decision or response before moving forward with it. Start out with small things like deciding what to eat or wear, and then move on to bigger decisions from there.
- Train yourself to wait on everyday activities and delay gratification when you can. This will help you to improve your attitude towards waiting. For example, pause before grabbing a second helping of dinner, or delay an activity that you enjoy for a little bit longer.
- Take note of your behavior when waiting in lines, getting stuck in traffic, and dealing with inefficiency. Endeavor to improve your attitude and mindset in each of these situations. If you find yourself shouting or muttering under your breath, try to resist it and turn your mindset around.
- Catch yourself when you become impatient and take note of what is triggering you and how you can adjust. The more we understand ourselves and our triggers, the easier it will be to grow our patience and make major changes in this regard.
Incorporating these strategies can help you become more patient, which will improve your life. Developing patience is also a key skill related to business success, so focus on it, and watch your accomplishments grow.