Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Take A Walk in Their Shoes
Take A Walk in Their Shoes
Say what? (Don't worry, this is not a “shoe” article. Read on and you'll see
where I'm going with this.)
It sounds a little out there, maybe even odd, to present such a whimsical
question during a serious job interview. Some may even call it flippant. I
believe it was brilliant. After all, shoes speak volumes about what people
value. Think about it—what type of shoes do YOU wear? What are you
wearing right now, and how do they make you feel: comfortable, sporty, sexy,
powerful, authoritative, rich, poor, newbie, or professional?
Any red-blooded fashionista worth her weight in salt will tell you that you can
change the whole look of an outfit simply by changing the shoes. Shoes
change your perspective both when you slip them on and in the way you
appear to others. Your choice of footwear communicates whether you
consider comfort over style or sacrifice feeling-good for foot-pinching to obtain
a certain image. Shoes and their fit affect your mood and confidence. They
provide a unique perspective of the world and of yourself. That’s where the
expression “walking in someone else’s shoes” comes from. It allows you to
really understand another person’s perspective. And that's what allows us to
connect with others.
Sometimes things look pretty good at first blush and it's not until we actually
try on the situation for size that we realize it's not quite as comfy as it appears.
Just like a pair of shoes that look perfect, we don't know what they feel like
until we have them on. We begin to appreciate that someone may appear
grouchy and off-balance because something in their life isn't fitting right.
I'm not saying it's OK for people to behave inappropriately toward you. Their
shoes may be an explanation for their behavior, but as stated in fact #2
above, they are not an excuse. There may be very valid and logical reasons
why someone is in a foul mood, has a chip on his or her shoulder, or is angry
with the world. Whatever the reason, it doesn't give the person permission to
dump on you. Again, it's an explanation, not an excuse.
So, what to do in a situation where you just don't see eye to eye with
someone? Start by slipping on the other person's shoes. See the world
from his or her perspective. Feel the pinches and blisters that are likely
rubbing the person the wrong way. Consider the situation from the
person's viewpoint. In doing so, you will build understanding…and bridges.
Everyone behaves the way they do for a reason, so take a walk in his or
her shoes and think about what that reason might be. Even if you can't
imagine what’s bothering someone, know that the person's behavior may
have nothing at all to do with you or the subject at hand. Acknowledge, to
whatever degree possible, the reasons why a person may be behaving a
certain way.
Just today, I experienced a frustrating incident with my bank that had been
dragging out for weeks. Pamela, the financial services manager, knew I was
plenty upset due to the bank’s unnecessary delays. The tension was growing
between us. Pamela was the person who was in a position to help me and I
realized that distancing myself from her was not an effective strategy. My
better judgment kicked in (thankfully) and I switched gears. Instead of going
on and on about the problem, I said to the Pamela, “Wow, so much paperwork
and bureaucracy. I don't know how you deal with it every day. You're
amazing.” When I went into the bank a couple hours later to sign some
papers, the branch manager popped in to personally apologize for the mix-
up—and to waive my monthly fees for a year and provide my business checks
for free. Wow! All because I tried on someone's shoes.
Isn't it time you got that shoe horn ready and gave it a try? Go ahead, take a
walk in someone else’s shoes. Feel the pinch. It just might bring you one step
closer to more effective communication.