SNI-OP
It happened to me several times last week.
I found myself in the middle of a conversation that was very unproductive. Actually, it was even worse than unproductive, it was nothing but negative as we were verbally tearing down a teammate that we all worked with. Sitting there talking about all the negative traits this person had and how the way he conducted meetings was terrible; how he talked and never asked questions; how unorganized he was… blah blah blah.
I got caught up in SNI-OP.
“S N I – O P: Susceptible to Negative Influences of Other People. -Zig Ziglar”
Has this ever happened to you?
Of course it has. It happens to me all the time. Sometimes I’m even the operative that leaks out negativisms to other people, as I become the leader of the SNI-OP. We all have fallen under the spell of SNI-OP, it has pulled down the best of us.
How does a Real Christian Businessman respond when this affects us?
1 – Be Reactive: Leave it.
Walk away when you realize that you are part of a conversation that is not building someone else up and is doing nothing but tearing him or her down. Excuse yourself. Go to the bathroom. Stand up and exit. You can’t undo what you already have said but you can stop saying anything else.
2 – Be Proactive: Memorize a scripture.
This sounds sooooo cliché doesn’t it? You’ve heard this before, I know. I am suggesting you pick just ONE scripture and memorize it until you can recite it without thinking. It’s amazing how doing this one little thing will help. I’ve been focused on the following verses for the last two weeks for example:
“Rejoice always. Pray continuously. Give thanks in everything. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Th 5:16-18 (CSB)
How do you think these words help me when SNI-OPs comes my way? Does reminding myself of “giving thanks in everything “help me to NOT be so negative about my co-worker when they ramble on in that meeting? Does “praying continuously” help refocus me when my mind starts to wander during a meeting and I start to make a list of all of the negative traits of the person that is talking?
Protect yourself from future attacks by memorizing some scripture and remembering to leave the room when you find yourself in the middle of an attack.
Doing something is always better than doing nothing.
“The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.” Prov 12:20 (CSB)
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up… “ Eph 4:29a (ESV)
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