A five-second pause

Today's Business Lessons

A five-second pause

BUSINESS MATTERS (BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE) 

By Francis J. Kong  

(The Philippine Star) Updated May 06, 2012 

I use Google mail a lot. There was a time when I depended heavily on another program and would have difficulty accessing my email when I’m out of the country. But with Google Mail, I can access my email whichever country I’m in.

Google Mail has a fantastic feature that not many people know about. It’s called the Undo Send. This feature gives you five seconds after hitting the Send button to stop your message from being sent.

How many times have we sent out something in a fit of anger or out of carelessness, and then regret it afterwards? I know of one guy who composed a fiery, passionate love letter for the new receptionist and mistakenly hit the “Send All” button.

Isn’t Google Mail wonderful? It gives us five precious seconds to stop a mistake from happening!

There’s no such button in real life and in real time that can undo words that we’ve released with our mouth or with our pen. But, like Google Mail, we can take a Five Second Pause before going ahead with something that has potential to be regretted.

When a hurtful word has been spoken to us, or when a despicable offense against us has once more been committed, and the familiar feeling of rage starts rising up in our chest, making our heart beat wildly and our face stiffen, why not take five precious seconds to pause before doing anything?

Hold your peace. Pause for five seconds. Then take a deep breath. Take another five-second pause, and another, until all the anger has dissipated. When you do this, you are educating your emotions and improving your emotional intelligence.

Our emotions will either serve us or shame us. It all depends on how effectively we harness and control them.

Many successful people I’ve met are those who are able to master their moods and emotions. Those who haven’t been as successful weren’t deficient in intelligence or education, but are usually those who cannot control their moods and feelings.

The Undo Send is a great feature. Google knows that people need a moment to keep themselves from sending off a mistake.

Often, we find ourselves on the brink of doing something we’re bound to regret. The temptation of a seemingly harmless flirting or fling. A word about to be spoken in anger. An enticement to break company rules. During these moments, take a Five Second Pause. 

This may just be the most important five seconds of your life.

Now pause for a few seconds and think about this.