Over the weekend, I had a friend share this video from Dr. Henry Cloud about three distinct types of people we encounter on a daily basis. He defines people as wise, foolish, or evil. His premise is that for most of us who strive to live an upstanding, good life mistakenly assume other people are the same. Sadly, as most of us know, this is not the case.
Understanding these three groups is essential as you navigate your personal and professional lives. When you recognize the type of person you are dealing with, expectations are much easier to deal with. Winning with people is not always achievable.
The first group he mentions are those who are wise. The wise person listens to advice, is willing to learn from their mistakes, and is grateful to those who offer solutions and ways to improve. This group of people are wonderful to lead teams and companies.
The second group are the foolish people. These are the people who will listen to those who are offering solutions or improvements but respond with excuses and blame. Rather than taking an opportunity to learn something, the foolish person continues on with their own agenda without regard to those around them.
The final group, the evil people are those who have no desire whatsoever to listen and actually have an agenda bent on harming others. Yikes! Unfortunately we all know some of these people. I can't even imagine waking up each day, hell-bent on hurting others intentionally. The only way to deal with this group is to understand they are out to hurt you and others. Therefore, when you recgonize them, you can be prepared. Sometimes being prepared means to be on the offensive and to be prepared to strike back when necessary.
When we understand what motivates people, it becomes easier to know what lies in their hearts and motives. Take a listen to Dr. Cloud's message. This is powerful and important to know. Be your best self and strive to be more like the Wise person.
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