Learning Patience

Patience is a virtue, they say. It’s what some have mastered and some are still learning. Patience with the little things and the big things is what some of us struggle with, but as we grow older, we realise patience is a key attribute to cultivate. Over the years, I have involuntarily learned patience as a result of the vibe, which I wrote about here. I admit that my experience as a salesperson dealing with different customers and colleagues might have helped me develop this skill. However, individual temperament and emotional intelligence also play a huge role in being patient.

My journey at the Lagos Business School (LBS)so far, albeit short, has opened me to sides of myself that I had not paid attention to, with patience being the major one. I like getting things done and will take charge of a situation I am involved with that’s not going according to plan. Sometimes, I get the feeling of being the only one who cares, but I find it difficult to look away when things are going awry. I guess this is part of who I am, and I can’t get rid of that part of me.

The part of my LBS journey that has tested my patience is the group work required for our courses. Getting every member of the group, with their busy schedules, to do an assignment or review can be very challenging. At the end of the day, I am the focal point, and all loose ends must be tied. With this in mind, I sometimes get desperate to get things done at a particular time and manner, but I can’t always have my way; this is where patience and understanding come in. Everyone is a professional, and most will act accordingly when the need arises.

Patience and observation have helped me study and identify the different blends in my group. I have been able to leverage the individual strengths of team members for different courses and assignments, and it’s encouraging that most people on the team have figured out the role they want to play in the group and are acting accordingly. I have a good blend of people in my group: the people who source the required data, the people who do analysis, the people who review, the people who teach and explain topics simply, and the people who are just happy to be there.

I still grumble at some calls I receive for various reasons, but that only makes me human. I guess what makes me a professional is that the person at the other end of the call does not feel like a bother or unwelcome. I believe a little patience will save relationships, personal and professional. Patience will let you listen more, and that builds goodwill with people. Patience can help in dealing with stressful and challenging situations. However, too much patience may cause disappointment, inaction, and apathy. The watchword, like with everything else in life, is balance; excess of anything can be harmful.