What People Say About You Matters!!

There are dozens of articles on why you should not care about what people think or say about you.

Yet, does what people say about you matter?

Should you really care what anyone thinks or says about you?

For instance, one article lays out seven reasons you should stop caring what other people think about you. Another author wrote 10 clear reasons why you shouldn’t care what others think about you.

Both articles and many others say the same things.

1. Focus on what matters. …
2. Remember, most people aren’t paying much attention. …
3. Keep perspective. …
4. You know best. …
5. Mind your own business. …
6. Desensitize your triggers. …
7. Stop overthinking. …
8. Seek constructive feedback.

The bottom line is what you say about yourself is what matters. It is that internal conversation with yourself that matters the most.

Nevertheless, you should be concerned about what people are saying about you in your professional career and in some cases in life.

Hence, there is a dichotomy between listening to what people say about you and you humbling yourself and listening to the feedback.

If you are on social media and worried so much about what others are saying that it affects your mental and physical health and well being, you may have other issues.

However, throughout my military career, peer evaluations carry a lot of weight. For instance, military leadership schools have peer evaluations that could affect your overall standings in the course.

If you are struggling with something in the course and the instructor staff are looking at dropping you from the course, your peer evaluations could make or break you.

I got the “Iron Man” award in the U.S. Army Military Police Senior Leadership Academy (9-week course). In my final evaluation, I got to hear what my classmates thought about my performance in the course. If I wasn’t a team player, lacked integrity, not dependable, it could have affected me getting that award.

A blessing for me, I was always willing to go the extra mile to build others up. I was comfortable working with others and just wanted to be of value to everyone around me.

Always be able to humble yourself and be open to constructive feedback (criticism).

Should you consider what other people are saying about you?

That’s a line you have to cross, yet, in order to grow, you will have to face the music and (again) humble yourself and listen to the feedback, although harsh or good.

Think about it this way; essentially, you don’t get to call yourself a team player. Your team decides whether or not you are a team player.

Your team decides whether you are a leader or not. You don’t get to call yourself a leader. The people around you choose to follow you.

You can call yourself a team player or a leader; however, your peers may believe otherwise. For instance, you could say “I would jump on a grenade to save my buddies; however, do your buddies believe you would jump on that grenade for them.”

So, should you be concerned with what people are thinking about you?

If you are humble, you actively contribute to the team to accomplish the mission; you can take ownership of your failures and find solutions (no complaining or pointing fingers). You are good at managing tasks, and you actively listen to coworkers, and respect other people’s ideas to improve the team.

Well, in that case, you should NOT have to worry about what other people think or say about you because you are a value to the people around you.

Notice, this post didn’t talk about you be “liked.” That’s a difference conversation.

Stay focused.