Filtering Personalities and Patient Advocacy

Addressing your advocacy comes with huge responsibilities, especially for those who bring their vocal experiences to a larger public audience. We establish and build our advocacy network with others who have been adamant about where they stand in giving a light and a voice to their cause, sometimes however there may be snags in the partnership. So how do you stay engaged and motivated while filtering the various personalities that come across on this ride, let’s talk...

People are still people

I’ve learned advocacy doesn’t mean avoiding thoughtlessness. It also doesn’t mean most parties are not flawed in how they go about the process of informing or partnerships. I find many forget that people are people and though fulfilling a great cause, they may not have the best way of communicating or working well with others.

I always say though the condition may have you by the arm, if your personality wasn’t the best before the condition- well, it may not fully leave you when the baton is passed along to lead and encourage. I’m sure many have had some conversations where they wish they could have erased the experience.

Next-up

Now, with that said – an unpleasant encounter should not in any way deter you from what it is you’re doing with your voice. In fact, it should motivate you to display and do what you do best. Sometimes bad behavior allows you to check yourself and check that your delivery is positive for the many open ears you have listening. Our voices are of many some may be more polished than others when divulging our true selves of feeling okay and not feeling okay.

Now showing the struggles of our day-to-day is not the same as having a miserable personality, the two are very different. You have to know what sets you off, and how your reaction may destruct your messaging.

Business is business

Many will find that their audience might stretch to other ears, where financial or other opportunities may become available; however, sometimes even in those experiences, the personalities may remind you of that awful employer who just never understood the task and overanalyzed rather than listening to what their team was expressing...Sorry, that took me back!

In other words, some opportunities do not remove unpleasant interactions; however, as our stage becomes bigger, we learn to move professionally and work around those moments. I can say when I see a strong personality overly aggressive (which isn’t often); I’m already establishing a mental record that this connection will be the last for future collaborations.

Problem-solving tips

Sometimes learning from the experience is the best way to process while continuing to be the best you, even when the bad apples are in your way. Let’s consider a few tips for avoiding or resolving:

• Remember your voice is valuable despite naysayers
• React with a smile
• Consider the worth of challenging bad behavior...is it worth your mental calm?
• Correct consistently negative energy (refer to latter)
• Respect will always qin, sometimes you have to instruct people on the correct way to treat you

Unfortunately, unpleasant or bad behavior doesn’t quite go away for some because of health conditions and now vocal advocates or partners; You would think those kinds of energies dissipate but just as in life we learn to cope, improve, teach, and carry on.

Carry On!

 The time to fight is now, with integrity, grace, hope, and a smile...when you feel like it