Inherited Baggage

We’re lugging it around.

We first grabbed the handle after that conversation with Jeff. He was running hot after a meeting with Bob from the procurement team. Bob had pushed all his buttons, so Jeff needed to download. Which he did. Loudly. With gesticulation.

You couldn’t help but catch some of the spray.

So now you think differently about Bob and, truth be told, about procurement as a whole. You’ve never worked with Bob, never talked to him, but now you’re wary of him.

It's natural, of course, to want to get a sense of someone before you meet them.

But it can also be a trap. Because now you’re walking into your first meeting with Bob, and Jeff has shaped how you see him.

Bob’s first impression has been tainted by Jeff’s last impression. Jeff’s baggage has become yours.

Are we prepared to let that happen?

What if we gave Bob the benefit of the doubt?

What if we made room for Bob to start a new story?

What if we set down Jeff’s suitcase before we walked in?

The conversation would go better. You know it would.