The Water Trough

We All Need Closure But Don't Slam the Door

Mike needed to get this campaign out of his head and onto paper, literally. Sue had all the tools, resources and skills to get the job done and she had met all of the conditions Mike had set forth. Still, Mike walked away saying that he would sort it out over the weekend, but he assured Sue I will call you on Monday. As of Tuesday the call did not come, nor by Friday of that week. Sue made several attempts to reach Mike but messages left and sent were not answered.

Been there? For most of us the answer is YES! Many of us keep trying, holding on to the notion that things will work out. Most of us are at least disappointed, if not angry. A smaller few let it roll off their backs but I doubt anyone is completely unfazed by this sort of thing. One thing is certain though- each of us needs closure.

Why Closure?

Closure is about letting go and moving on. In a practical sense, it's about permitting ourselves to let go and to move on. Rather than spending time on something that holds little or no hope of value we can direct our efforts where they will serve us best. Time is one of our most precious assets and we all know that it is limited. Choosing closure is an opportunity for us to increase our control over our own lives. It may not always be easy to do; there is always that "what if" thing to deal with. But the benefits far outweigh the potential losses, particularly if we view closure as a planned and necessary process.

Tips for Successful Closure

• Mission- keep in mind why you are here in the first place. You have not only to uphold the integrity of your mission but you must also be sure to allocate your precious time so that your mission can be fulfilled. 
  
• Preserve- just because the deal is closing now does not mean the opportunity will not come back around. Preserve the integrity of the relationship, even if that means choking back your ego.
• Set boundaries- they differ, depending upon the circumstances but at a minimum, agree to go forward with only a positive attitude. If you wait until you are angry, you have waited too long.
• Smile- if you did wait too long and you are angry or negative, go ahead and kick a can. But when it comes time to close, get over it. Negativity and anger are like a drug-fueled high; brief euphoria followed by a crushing crash.
• Vision- look forward not behind. Learn from the lessons provided and focus on using this new knowledge to improve upon the future.

Taking control of the process is within your grasp. Closure is not always about making a sale. Sometimes it's about walking away; but before you do walk away, make sure you know where you are headed and where you are coming from.

Related articles

Closure

Romneyhood Versus Obamaloney- Does Anybody Win?

The battle for the most coveted prize in American politics is heating up and by heating up I mean it's getting down-right nasty. If it was only the contenders in the ring it would be vicious enough but fans on both sides are throwing their weight in and we are now in the midst of a brouhaha of unprecedented magnitude.

This is not however a political post, roast or enticement. My intent is to suggest we step back from the mud-slinging and vitriol and ask a very simple, but profoundly important question. Does the behavior both in and outside the ring serve a genuine good purpose? When all is said and done, does anybody really win, when the game is played this way?

Competition such as this is rampant in the business world. It's not enough to promote the
good things we have- a dose of deprecation of our competitors is often a big part of the plan. Is our best simply not good enough? Is it really possible that our merits alone are insufficient to convince our customers that we are good enough?

I have read that negative campaiging works, but despite all the reasons I have heard to explain it, I just don't get it. Call me old-fashioned (I admit I've been around for a while but if what you have to offer is not of interest to me, there is no amount of stomping on your competitor that will convince me to change my mind.

Where there is smoke there is...

FIRE! Everybody knows there are fires to tend in the workplace. From smoldering embers to raging infernos they hamper our ability to manage the routine events upon which our business depend. But how often have you said (or heard) “I spend too much time putting out fires?”