Change the Smack Talk Fail to a Soft Skills Guardrail
Did it seem like June ended with a bang? Between whopper politics, reality show revelations, and sports shenanigans, you might be feeling a little worn out. But hold on before you hide under the covers. There’s wisdom to gain by taking a second look.
When you step back and observe, you can avoid making versions of the same mistakes. So, in the July series, From Fail to Guardrail, we’ll talk through three ripped from the headlines stories and show the difference soft skills can make.
First, let’s discuss the crazy slugfest between the Seattle Mariners and Anaheim Angels on June 26. One article called it “…one of the most unhinged brawls you’ll ever see on a major-league diamond.”
One Word Leads to Another
Angels veteran Mike Trout had plenty to say about a close call from pitcher Erik Swanson. He complained, “If you can’t pitch inside, don’t pitch inside. If you’re going to hit me, hit me in the ribs — don’t hit me in the head.” But he also admitted he was speculating saying, “I don’t know if that was the intent, but anything at the head — you don’t do that.”
The Angels pitchers sided with their superstar, taking aim at the Mariners the next day. Jesse Winker was hit, and when the smack talk started from the Angels dugout, Jesse lost his temper, shouted a few choice words, and both benches emptied. Then, he left the field, flipping off the booing Angels crowd. Twelve players and coaches were ejected, suspended, or injured in the aftermath: Big fail.
However, Mariner fan Sofie Dill decided to turn lemons into lemonade by sending Winker a pizza as he sat alone in the clubhouse. She tweeted about Doordash driver Simranjeet Singh who was determined to make the delivery. When Singh was successful, Sofie shared his Venmo account so other Mariner faithful could pitch in for a tip. By the end of the night, almost 400 people had pledged. Singh was thrilled, saying, “I still can’t explain what happened to me in the last five hours. I’m still in my dreams right now.”
Sofie received personal thanks from Jesse as well as a signed jersey. And by the way, Winker acknowledged his offensive gesture and apologized the next day to the fans, especially kids in the audience.
How Soft Skills Can Change a Fail into a Guardrail
What a mess — at least there was a happy ending with the pizza delivery! You may wonder what this story has to do with soft skills. A lot — because everyone has infuriating moments where they are thisclose to over-reacting.
Reframe the case study to an office setting, and it will suddenly look familiar. The after-meeting half-truth whispered in a hallway. Team members taking sides. The escalation in the next meeting — a sniper comment gets made, someone answers back, and then it’s on.
That dangerous domino is why it’s essential to practice soft skills like self-awareness and conflict resolution. Unfortunately, you can’t stop the put-down comment from your colleague. But you can build in a guardrail, where you see and course correct tiny errors before things get out of hand. Think of it like driving a car — you take care when others are speeding, slow down around a hairpin mountain turn, or know when it’s time to hit the gas.
Here are three ways to course correct and change a fail into a guardrail:
1. Ask yourself The Big Question, “Is the fight now worth the fight later?” Impulsive behavior often has lasting consequences. So, think twice!
2. Trade instant answers for playing the long game. As a professional negotiator, I’ve learned the hard way that the shrewdest decision can also be the most challenging. So instead of clapping back, take a break so everyone can cool down.
3. Support your ongoing personal development by declaring, “I learn from every situation. I’m constantly improving.”
Maya Angelou often gave a short and sweet piece of advice, “Stop it. Now.” Before you find yourself in a throwdown wondering, How did I get here?!, avoid a fail by using your personal guardrail.
