If you haven’t seen the media buzz about Faith Hill’s performance at the Country Music Awards, you must be in seclusion somewhere. I’m talking about the performance she put on backstage as they announced the female vocalist of the year. If somehow you missed it, you can see it here.
If it was a media stunt (on her part), it worked. If it wasn’t, I’ll bet she’s wishing she could have a “do-over” moment.
You see, it doesn’t matter whether she was just playing or she was truly reacting to a disappointing moment. The point is, millions of people noticed and it left a lasting impression on them.
Most of us never face a difficult situation in front of an audience that size. But the truth is, someone is almost always noticing how we react, especially in difficult situations. And those reactions, one by one, leave indelible marks on your reputation.
Think back to one of your recent difficult situations. Perhaps you were passed over for a promotion; or maybe you disagreed with a colleague’s opinion; or you may have been dealing with a dissatisfied customer or client.
If your situation were replayed on videotape, what would people notice? What would they see in your face and body language? What would they hear in your voice inflections of your words?
Would you be proud of your performance, or would you be defending your reactions like Faith Hill did?
Strong emotions are signals. They warn you that you have deep feelings about the situation you’re facing. They signal you to stop and think. They signal you to make a conscious choice about what you’re going to do or say.
Do you use the signals or do you ignore them?
The bottom line is this…unmanaged emotions, especially in difficult situations, leave lasting impressions. And as always, you get to choose!
