When you approach someone with a clean slate mindset, you let go of things they have said or done that hurt, disappointed or annoyed you, or maybe made you angry.
Think of situations where if you had wiped the slate clean in your mind earlier in the day, the interactions you had with someone could have gone better.
A group at work was broken up into teams, and Jim was named leader of one of the teams. When he saw that “Paula” would be on his team, he groaned to himself. His facial expression said it all. Paula and Jim had worked together before, and they see things differently. Each has a stubborn streak and thinks they’re right. Of course, they think their way is the best for the team.
As team leader, Jim had the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start fresh with Paula on this new project. But, he didn’t. He doesn’t like her, and he blames her for a problem in the past when she was stubborn and outspoken. He has held onto that mindset, and it colors every interaction he has with her. You can guess how their communication about the project is going.
Jim could have said, “Let’s start over.” Or, instead, he could have acted as if he had wiped the slate clean. He could ask for Paula’s input, letting her know he is truly interested in hearing it. She would probably be skeptical, but if he is genuine in his thinking about starting fresh, it would come across in his words, his tone and his actions. In time, she might trust him and shift her approach, too.
Every leader’s actions speak louder than their words. Every employee pays attention to whether their leaders are genuinely committed to walking their talk, consistently.
Wiping the slate clean is easier said than done. And, of course, there are some situations where you have to keep past history in mind. But, this is a mindset shift that can help you see someone from a different perspective. It takes effort, but starting your day being intentional about looking at people with fresh eyes can make a real difference in your interactions and your relationships. Both at work and at home.
