Mind Over Manners: 5 Ways To Keep Your Temper In Check

Mind Over Manners: 5 Ways To Keep Your Temper In Check
Author

Serbin Media

Release Date

Friday, April 17, 2015

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Jacqueline Whitmore, an internationally-recognized etiquette expert, author and founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach, says when our emotions takeover it’s a good time to take a step back before taking action.

“In stressful situations, we tend to forget about our surroundings and focus more on how to get restitution without always thinking about the potential consequences,” she says. “A bad situation can bring out the worst in even the most rational people.”

Whitmore’s tips for gracefully handling stressful situations:

- Always be mindful of your surroundings. Cameras are everywhere these days. You never know who might be recording or taping you. A bad situation can become much worse if it goes viral and the whole world sees it. It can cost you your job, or worse, your personal reputation. Remember the Mitt Romney 47% incident, where a hidden camera recorded the GOP candidate’s comment that 47 percent of voters “are dependent upon government?” Some people say it cost him the election.

- No one is above the law. When you work in a high level position, you carry that corporate brand with you even at off hours. If you’re a high level figure you have to always act like it. Remember when Reese Witherspoon’s husband was arrested for DUI and she got out of the car yelling, “Do you know my name?” You’re never above the law no matter who you are.

- Treat others like you’d like to be treated. Unfortunately, in stressful situations, we lash out at people who don’t deserve to be treated that way. Most of the time it’s not even the person’s fault. For example, your food taking a long time to come out of the kitchen in a restaurant is usually not your waiter’s fault, but we tend to put the blame on him. Or why yell at the gate agent because your flight takes a weather delay? The golden rule is always treat people how you want to be treated.

- Find better ways of airing your grievances. Instead of losing your cool and blowing up in public, find more productive ways of proving your point or getting results. Take to Twitter and other social media platforms, send an email or write a letter to the company. The worst thing you can do, especially these days, is make a scene or public disruption.

- Think before you speak. Remember, what comes out of your mouth cannot be retracted. Once it’s out there it’s always out there. Think twice before you speak, even if emotions are running high. Step back from the situation and take a deep breath before you open your mouth because words have the power to hurt more than anything else.

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