Address Stress Promote Good Manners
Just a little bit of stress can really affect every day people and their manners. I see this all the time in airports. As soon as an airline delays or cancels a flight, a group of calmly waiting passengers quite suddenly changes into an unruly mob with individuals exhibiting behaviors they would never have contemplated minutes earlier.
I recall, in particular, a delay announcement made one evening in San Francisco’s airport. A passenger began to scream at a gate agent, “You’ve got to get me out of here tonight!” The delay was due to fog. There was absolutely nothing the gate agent could do about it.
I find I tackle stress best by engaging in physical activity. A good long walk helps a little. A hard run or swim can be transformative. When everything seems out of my hands, I know that I can control the number of laps I swim or the light posts I pass on a run.
If you're starting work as an intern, summer associate or new hire, the next time stress makes you feel like you’re about to burst, try to step away and engage in a little physical exertion. With luck, that exercise will release a few endorphins and thereby help you address the stress event quietly and calmly.
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