My clients are very familiar with the acronym TANM.

When they complain about a team member who’s underperforming, I often challenge them to remember that “they are not me”.

We all wonder why people can’t act more like we would in a similar position.

These situations might involve an employee, coworker, client, or even someone standing in front of us at Starbucks.

We expect that everyone should deal with life exactly the way we do.

It doesn’t work that way… People are wired differently.

We all have different backgrounds, desires, and capabilities.

Remembering this can help us build better relationships with our teams, friends, and family.

The next time you feel frustrated with another person, remind yourself of TANM.

Then, get curious. Notice and appreciate the unique gifts of the person right in front of you.

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—CJ McClanahan

Speaker | Advisor | Recovering Overachiever

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