How do you react to being challenged? Do you internally cringe and feel the flight-or-fight response kicking in? Or do you rise to the challenge, seeing this as an opportunity to clarify a point, share information and learn from the experience?
Learning how to see challenge as a routine and valuable part of any role and learning is essential for growth and a leadership pathway. Yet, many people really struggle with this and avoid being challenged at all costs and react defensively, with an attempt to shut-down any future challenges being at the forefront of this strategy.
1. Take a Breath & Digest
When you are first confronted with a problem, it may feel overwhelming and take you by surprise. Fight/Flight sets in and you feel your heart racing, dry mouth and panic brewing. Stop, breathe and take some time to consider the challenge, the reasons for the challenge and how you will respond. If you need some time to consider this further before a response – that is AOK and vocalise this, with confidence.
2. Ask Questions & Assess the Challenge
When you first hear about the problem, it might seem overwhelming and complicated. Start with finding out where the challenge is coming from and why the ‘challenger’ is issuing the challenge? Ask people to explain it to you a few times. Keep asking questions to really get to the root of this and establish the reason for the challenge. This may be as simple as needing more information or it may involve concerns they have or an opposing view or agenda. This may require discussion and exploration and the involvement of other parties to work through and collaborate on options and how to move forward.
Remember – where there is a genuine desire to collaborate and find solutions, there will be a way and often people want information, to be heard and their perspective considered in a challenge scenario but the key is – there does not always need to be an agreed and immediate solution and time can be taken.
3. Be Gracious/ Open to Learning & Thankful for the Challenge
Start to view challenges as an opportunity to strengthen your buy-in from other’s, educate and grow. Tackling these with a calm and non-emotive response and with gratitude for the interest the other party/parties are showing through this challenge and with an openness to explore the reason behind the challenge, through questions and open communication.
If the challenge appears hostile, this is probably because the ‘challenger’ has had an emotive response and even more important to then diffuse this. This can be achieved by a calm, open approach, thanking them for their challenge and questions and asking them a series of questions to really understand their view. Ensure that they feel heard, involved and respected in their challenge. (stick to the facts and avoid opinions)
Next time you receive a challenge – Relish it, Embrace it and Rise to the Challenge!
https://www.business2community.com/human-resources/7-ways-develop-challenge-culture-work-01908971
You may also want to check out the below link around a framework for challenging other’s effectively and positively: https://colinjamesmethod.com/constructive-conflict-handle-workplace-disagreements/
