March 9

We each have default settings that we tend to revert to when under stress. For example, is your default position to inherently trust someone until given a reason not to or to distrust until given a reason to believe them? This may not be something you’ve ever considered, but it can have a significant impact on your relationships. When you default to trusting others, you will inevitably be disappointed but might also be surprised by how often they live up to your trust. When you default to mistrust, you create a hurdle for them to jump just to be in relationship with you. While you may get ahead of some bad behavior, you generate an aura of suspicion and oppositional energy within your team dynamics.

Your default position is a stake in the ground that anchors your future decisions. Thus, you must be mindful of any defaults that you set for yourself or your team. You can easily trap yourself and limit your future options. This applies not only to your inherent position toward others but also your default systems, decisions, schedule, and other personal and team processes. Your defaults anchor you in a set of expectations.

Consider the defaults that you’ve established in your process, your collaboration, and your leadership. Make certain they aren’t limiting your options.

Your default stance anchors your future decisions.

Are there any default positions that you’ve taken that need to be reconsidered?