In any relationship, personal or professional, whenever you hear yourself saying or thinking,
"What's the big deal?"
pause and take whatever you've just dismissed seriously.
Something that's not a big deal to you is likely a big deal to the other person. That's why they're talking to you about it. When you don't see it as a big deal, you're basically communicating that you don't plan to do anything about it. Although the actual issue may truly not be a big deal, your dismissal of the situation and the other person will be interpreted as disrespect, which is a big deal for any relationship.
If it's truly not a big deal, why not just do what's being asked?
About the Author: Robert Chen
Robert Chen is an executive coach, Wharton lecturer, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Selling Your Expertise. He created Embrace Possibility to explore practical ideas for living and working with greater intention, and founded Vana Lab to help young people build the real-world capabilities they need to navigate life.