Daily Leadership Thought #91 – Avoidance Only Ever Makes Things Worse
Avoidance never works. Most of us prefer comfort over discomfort. Procrastination, whether at the last minute or until compelled into action, is our preferred method of avoiding difficult challenges. You see this behavior every day in business and in life. Sadly, the longer we wait to address an issue, the worse it usually becomes. This is especially true when it comes to having frank and honest conversations with those closest to us and/or addressing pressing financial issues.
Relationship issues never fix themselves. They must be confronted in a straightforward but empathetic manner. Problem employees will remain that way unless they are removed or put on notice with a deadline to change their behavior. Financial problems don’t go away because you decide to focus on other things—the math must work out in the end. Symptoms of illness or other medical issues don’t magically heal themselves—in fact, the sooner you get them checked out, the better.
I am an optimistic person, and I believe that every problem we confront has a viable solution. However, just because the solution may not always be perceived as optimal or what we want doesn’t mean a solution isn’t still required. Everything has a beginning and an end. Work and life decisions must match individual circumstances. People need to agree and commit to being in constructive relationships. Being healthy requires work and even more effort and attention as we age. Avoiding reality may seem convenient at times, but it only ever makes things worse in the long run. Life does require courage, even when it hurts or makes you uncomfortable.
Related articles
- Avoidance Coping and Why It Creates Additional Stress (verywellmind.com)
- Avoidance Coping (psychologytoday.com)
- Confronting or Not Confronting??? (wadehrecoverynetwork.wordpress.com)
- Communication is Key (brittanyjohnson15.wordpress.com)
- Healthy Argument Boosts Relationships (ejaife.wordpress.com)
- Don’t Own the Problem. Own the Solution. (successful-blog.com)
