It’s colder outside

Things got heated in a meeting I was running recently.

And I didn’t like it.

I was running a meeting at work with about 20 or so folks. Everyone from peers to managers was in attendance. We were trying to plan some future projects together, and one particular person didn’t like the direction things were going and kept bringing us back to the same point, after I was repeatedly trying to move us forward and make some progress. It got to a certain point in the meeting that it was just this person and me talking back and forth. No one else would say anything because he was starting to raise his voice and his tone was getting stern. I was beginning to raise my voice. Things were getting heated.

Then it happened.

I left the room.

Now remember, I am the one that set up the meeting, planned the meeting, and was running the meeting. It was my job to get us successfully from point A to point B by the end of the meeting.

But I couldn’t take it anymore.

I could tell that my posture and demeanor were headed in the wrong direction. I could tell that I was about to say some things that were out of character, that I would regret my actions if I continued down the path we were on. So I stood up, said excuse me in the middle of the conversation, and walked out.

“A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.” Prov 19:19 (NIV)

A Real Christian Businessman knows when it is time to remove yourself from a situation. He knows enough about himself to be able to press the emergency button and override his emotions and step away when things are going awry. On this particular day I was able to be this person.

Be mindful. Be aware. Be conscious as to how you handle situations and your emotions. I rarely get it this “right”, but this time I did, BECAUSE I have been praying AND thinking about how I would react when situations like this come up. I have been in them before and believe me I have said and done many things that I have later regretted.

Once I returned to the meeting a few minutes later (after I walked around for a couple of minutes) the tone of the meeting came back around. We ended up finishing the meeting with successful plans in place and this person actually contributed greatly to the plans that we all agreed to.

Don’t be the hot tempered man, don’t be the one who has to get rescued every time. And if things do end up getting hot, remember that it is always a little colder – outside of the room.

P.s for those of you wondering when my book is going to be done know that I am in the home stretch! I am in the editing and proofing stage right now, and it has taken me a little longer than anticipated as I learn to navigate the self-publishing arena successfully. It will be done soon though!

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