Hold please

So, lets talk about this great saying, “hold please”, because I don’t think we use it enough!

There’s a lot of social pressure to know the answer, to be ready to move, and respond on a dime!  While I understand that ‘trust the process’ without asking too many questions has its place, I’m a huge fan of “hold please“. I’m also a huge fan of asking A LOT of questions, but that’s a conversation for a different day.

Stay with me on this: (I warned you that these would be fairly random thoughts, right?!) maybe we need more information, or a moment to consider our response (and therefore be enabled to give a better, more thoughtful answer), and perhaps we simply don’t even understand the ask.

As it relates to holding, or slowing our roll, I think we should all feel free to pause and slow down. I see that bubble above your head and know that even as I write this, you are thinking “but I can’t, my <insert your applicable: boss, kid, spouse, partner, friend, etc.>. wont let me”.

However, I think they will! It has been my experience that the entire world actually gets it. Folks really understand and will comply with ‘hold please’. Clearly, we have all been well-trained by help-desks, customer service call centers, and more recently, every restaurant around the globe trying to survive on take-away/grab-and-go only! (By the way, please tip generously!)

If we are able to satisfy whatever “that” need is, wouldn’t that result in better communication?  A greater level of understanding, cooperation and collaboration across-the-board would surely be the result – and Lord knows we need that now more than ever!

Just think about the things we could learn from those around us who know different things <side note: I love learning new, random things!>. And, this doesn’t even begin to touch on the people around us who think or believe different things. How important might that conversation be? (See the aforementioned “Lord knows” statement!)

So I invite you, even give you permission, to request a hold in your own life! If so, you will move forward with greater clarity, more confidence and/or an overall wiser perspective, directly because of the enhanced vantage point, better understanding or new information you gained and the brief reflection you took.

And certainly, do not forget the “please” part. We do want to be bold to ask for what we need, but not at the expense of our manners; our mothers will so proud – (shout out to Dolores)!