What a great opportunity to relieve their anxiety and discomfort.įirst, you will need to redefine confusion-give it a positive connotation. This provides an opportunity to create a safe learning environment where people can admit to being confused without fear of recrimination. But, when faced with uncertainty, it gets harder for them to contain their anxiety.įearful that their inadequacies will be exposed, they seldom ask questions or seek clarification. Most people can keep their apprehensions in check as long as they are in control. If you can do this in a constructive manner, think of the possible benefits.Īs you begin to work with people, who are in a confused state of mind, remember you may be dealing with deeply set feelings, perceptions, and fears-including your own. There is a very good reason-when people are confused, they are susceptible to redirection and open to new information.

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines confusion as, “the state of disarray disorder perplexity of the mind or embarrassment.” Given that definition, you might be wondering why you would intentionally create such a state. Yet in order to minimize dysfunction, leaders must force themselves, and their followers to enter a state of confusion. Given this all-too-common background, it is no wonder that so many people become dysfunctional when they get confused. You came away feeling belittled and embarrassed-more confused than before.

On these occasions your self-confidence took a big hit. Worse yet, you were criticized for not paying attention or ridiculed for asking dumb questions. Sometimes, instead of getting help, you were ignored or told to go away. Most of the time they understood and offered their wise council or sage advice-but not always. Later, as the problems got more complex and harder to solve on your own, you looked to your elders for clarification and direction. Most of us learned early in life to avoid confusion, or at least not to admit to it, even when it was painfully obvious that we did not know what to do.

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