Retreat or withdrawal brings the idea of weakness and defeat to mind.
On the surface, it looks as if you are running away because you cannot
handle a situation. But at times, you may have to make a planned
retreat when faced with overwhelming odds to stage a comeback. A
well-planned retreat is a prudent move with benefits that can help you
on a personal and a professional level. Read on to find out what the
benefits are.
Maintains Relationships
Relationships define our lives. Whether it is on a personal or
professional level, most of us have to interact with people. And as you
already know, interacting with people is not easy. You have to give
and take. In the course of any relationship, you will face conflicts
from time to time. Conflicts have the potential to harm a relationship
if you do not manage it well. When you find the odds against you, it
might be better to retreat to maintain the relationship.
For example, if your boss had a bad day, it would not be wise to ask
him for a raise even if you deserve it. On the one hand, he would not
be receptive to the idea. On the other hand, you could piss him off and
blow your chances in the process. Retreat if the moment is not right
to press your case. In doing so, you avoid a needless clash that could
cause problems in a relationship.
Preserve Your Strength
You only have so much time and energy to deal with a myriad matters
each day. If you expended all your effort into something that does not
yield results, it becomes a waste of time and energy. Thus, you have to
choose your battles with care. If you find that you cannot get your
way in a matter, it is prudent to retreat to preserve your strength.
A child who wants his parents to get him a toy could throw a tantrum
until he gets it. A tantrum may or may not get him his toy, but it
wastes a lot of energy either way. As adults, we do not have the luxury
of focusing on a single object with all our might. But we do have more
flexibility in reaching our goals. If we face obstacles in getting
what we want, it is better to retreat to find other ways and means to
achieve our goals. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
Prevents Needless Problems
Sometimes insisting on a particular course of action can lead to
great resistance and friction. It is better to remain fixed on the
goal, but flexible about the methods. If you insist on your way, it
might alienate you from others whose help you depend on. This could
lead to needless problems in the process. Under such circumstances, it
is wise to compromise and retreat on issues that are not so important.
In a group project, everyone has to play his or her part and get
along. Finding common ground and mutual understanding is vital to the
success of the project. If everyone insisted on his or her point of
view, the project would stall. Thus, retreating on issues that are not
vital can prevent needless problems.
Choosing Your Time and Place
Timing and situational factors can affect your chances of success.
If the times and circumstances are not in your favour, a retreat allows
you to prepare for a better opportunity. Change is the only constant in
life. If things are against you now, they will go your way in the
future if you survive and plan for it. The best way to survive is to
retreat for the moment.
Let us say you want to set up a new business. But before you can do
so, the economy enters into a recession. People are jittery about
things and less willing to spend. Under such circumstances, it would be
more prudent to retreat and wait for the economy to pick up. Or you
could retreat until you have found a way to leverage on some advantage
you have found in your planning and research.
Taking Action
A well-planned retreat is not a sign of weakness or defeat. It can
prevent needless problems from standing between you and your goals. In
the greater scheme of things, it preserves your strength until you are
in a position to press your advantage. Thus, you should make it a point
to be aware of your situation. When you can advance and retreat in
tune with the times and circumstances, you will be more likely to reach
your goals.
The Vizier blogs at Han of Harmony.
Here, he gives tips on how to live life in harmony with the times and
circumstances. The Vizier enjoys learning and finding new ways to
deal with the challenges of life. Whether it is gaining inspiration
from books, observing people or just living life, he learns and
reflects so that he can share his insights with others.
0 Comments