What Is My Modus Operandi?

December 11, 2014 — communication, modus operandi, modus vivendi, truth

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The way you do one thing is the way you do everything.  This is the theory that detectives use when they construct a modus operandi for criminals they want to catch and crimes that may be linked. In business it is helpful to know the M.O. of your customers or clients in order to better serve them.   This way of observing things applies to politics and daily life just as much as it does to business and law enforcement.  In our world today it is often necessary to construct a modus vivendi between individuals or groups just to survive. The U.S Congress is engaged in just such a desperate way of doing business.  We look at big institutions and see these conflicts but rarely do we bring it down to a personal scale.  How do I know what my own M.O. is?  How do others perceive my communication?  Do I poison the conversation with preconceived notions?

Normally we start be assuming we are right and entitled to our opinion.  In conflict, however, both sides usually reveal some irrational thinking that arises from prejudice.  If we bring some reflection to the subject beliefs often cloud all evidence to the contrary.  We may not be able to start from the position that we might be wrong, but by asking some simple questions we may discover our own ulterior motives and intellectual weakness.

• Do I listen in an open spirit, without a need to form a reply?
• Do I do any research before adopting something as a fact?
• Am I more concerned with appearance than with reality?
• Do I hold any hard feelings for entire countries, races, or religious groups?
• Could I possibly be too prejudiced by my past to make good decisions on this subject?
• Can I see the opposition’s point of view?
• Is my argument based on fact or emotions?

Each of us has a unique way of doing business, and patterns are engrained in all of us.  We could all do with less mendacity and obstruction in our lives.  To do that we have to identify the ways we create that obstruction through our thoughts words and deeds.  Look within, Gentle Readers.  You are your own answer.

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