May 1, 2020, 12:12 PM

Sometimes parents must be patient with their children; spouses must be patient with their mates; teachers must be patient with students; executives must be patient with their employees. Because we all must ‘own’ our decisions and our status-self-image system, as well as our cognitive investment in current network of ideas, plans, and habits resists pressure to adapt – except at our own speed and on our own terms. So people must own their adaptation – because they must weigh the costs and benefits and come to own their choices. Sometimes it takes minutes, sometimes hours, sometimes months, and sometimes years. So plant seeds rather than persuade, convince, or coerce. And leave the door open. And resist the call of pride in saying “I told you so”. Instead deliver the reward of “I hoped you would.”