Try This 8-Step Approach to Dealing with Your Pet Peeves

Do you have a pet peeve? We all do! I know you’re thinking you don’t have any pet peeves, however we all have pet peeves.

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If you ask the people who know you well, they would tell you what your pet peeves are.

When I was growing up I didn’t understand or know what pet peeves were, however I knew what annoyed my mother. How? Because she would correct my sisters and I when we did something to annoy her.

My mother had several pet peeves. One of her top ten was when someone would chew their food with their mouth open and smack while they were eating. When my sister would smack her lips while she was eating, it would drive my mother crazy. She would tell us to chew with our mouths closed and stop smacking.

Another one of my mother’s pet peeves was when we dragged our feet as we walked. She would remind us to pick up our feet. As a result of my mother’s influence, I have passed her pet peeves on to my children.

One of my pet peeves is when people say “ah” over and over. When I hear people say “ah,” I find myself mentally counting. The word bothers me so much, when I coach individuals on public speaking, the first thing I tell them is my aversion to “ah.”

[callout]If we are not aware of our pet peeves, they will impact how we lead others.[/callout]

So, what are pet peeves? Merriam-Webster defines pet peeves as something that annoys or bothers a person very much. We all have behaviors that annoy us.

According to Fitness Magazine, 79% of workers have job-related pet peeves. As a leader, it will be your responsibility to address workplace pet peeves. However, before you can deal with the pet peeves of others, you need to be aware of your own.

Do you manage your pet peeves? Alex Blackwell offers the following eight-step approach to dealing with your pet peeves.

1. Acknowledge your pet peeve
2. Resist the urge to vent about what is annoying you
3. Understand the deeper meaning of your pet peeve
4. Know what the person is doing is not personal
5. Find a healthy release for your frustration
6. Gain a better understanding of the rest of the story
7. Look for something good about the person or situation
8. Display grace, compassion and understanding

We all have pet peeves. How you handle your pet peeves will determine your level of success.

[shareable cite=”Whoopi Goldberg”]I don’t have pet peeves, I have whole kennels of irritation.”[/shareable]

Do you manage your pet peeves?

Your leadership guide,
Kim

Dr. Kim Moore | Your Leadership Guide | kimdmoore.com