Recap of leader quick tip: Others can push your buttons only when you allow them to.
It’s a rotten feeling when someone can “push your buttons.”

The words or actions of another can cause anger, resentment, irritation, defensiveness, impatience, disappointment, and more. (Remember John Maxwell—“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react.”)
We know that none of you, our loyal solutions for leaders readers, ever react in any of these ways!
And that’s good, because these reactions can quickly get a leader labeled “a jerk.”
This is not a good thing.
Others can push your buttons only when you allow them to.
You have complete control over yourself, but you have chosen to give some of that control away.
What kind of control have you given up? The control over the way you feel, and the way you then react.
In other words, you let others “trigger” you. And your response is automatic.
You’re a stickler for starting meetings on time. The same person is habitually tardy. He sets you off—every time. You get agitated—every time. The meeting goes downhill—every time.
Mr. Tardy controls your feelings, and reactions.
Would you like to take back the control you have given away? Of course, you would.
This is important. If you can’t master yourself, how can you master your world as a leader?
Maybe you’re getting triggered because you have your hand in the wrong tool kit.
Recap of leader quick tip: Others can push your buttons only when you allow them to.
He’s late for the meeting again. You open your tool box, reach for the hammer, and get his attention.
She misses another deadline. A vise for that cute little thumb and she’ll remember next time.
He keeps resisting change. Let’s see here. Ah, a crowbar to pry him into the future.
Listen up. The tools in this toolbox are designed to force the other person to change. It’s a heavy handed way to make others stop pushing your buttons. This isn’t the problem though.
The problem is that the focus is on the wrong person.
When someone triggers us, we want them to stop. Sure, but this gets us nowhere fast.
If someone is triggering you, there is but one real and lasting solution.
You have to imagine you are an onion, and peel back the layers to find out what’s going on..
What’s behind you being triggered? And why are you letting others push your buttons?
Until you answer these questions, nothing is really going to change for you.
You can learn all about this if . . . you will decide to attend our upcoming Self Mastery for Leaders workshop. For details, click here! If you are really curious, join our teleconference on Wednesday, October 5th at 11:45 a.m. to gain a better understanding about the workshop and it’s long term benefits to you!
And stay tuned for this continuing series of Leader Quick Tips and BLOGs for more on “Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react.”
Martha Forlines and Thad Green





