Find a role model to speak with and learn how they ‘do what do they well’.
Monthly Archive for September, 2009
How can we flow with the river? If we need to swim against the flow, where is the current slowest?
I am free to choose the action I take and I am responsible for the outcomes
Toastmasters is a very positive organisation that provides a supportive learning environment for learning public speaking, communication and leadership skills in a low-risk format. The types of people who are attracted to join and stay in Toastmasters are very positive and sharing.
In this facilitated discussion with a group from one of China’s highest quality club - Shanghai Leadership Toastmasters Club - we talked about ways to use the skills used in Toastmasters and apply them in other areas of our life, such as health, wealth and contribution.
The principle is based on leveraging the activities that you spend the most time on. The more applications you can find for a given skill, the higher your ROTI (return on time invested) will be.
You can link to my Toastmasters page here. Or you can download the audio file directly here. (MP3, 18.3MB)
How self aware are you under pressure? Have you noticed that you change when time is tight or things do not go according to plan? Probably you have observed it in others. A manager who raises his voice at a colleague who makes a mistake when a deadline is approaching. People in the airport who surround an airline representative demanding to know why the flight has been delayed again.
Pressure is a fact of life if you live a life of self-improvement. You put pressure on yourself to reach targets, improve your skills and this pressure can sometimes have a negative impact on your performance.
I like to race in triathlon races, which are held in the summer when temperatures are extremely hot. One race in Hainan in South China took place in temperatures of over 35C. In this heat, I noticed that my cognitive abilities suffered. It became more challenging to do mental calculations on speed and distance. Being under pressure causes the same lapses. A team mate recently rode 7 laps instead of 6 laps in a race! How can you keep a clear head while the pressure and literally the heat is being turned up? By taking this third-party position, you are putting a gap between the emotions you are feeling and this will help you arrive at better decisions.
One important step to remaining calm is to become aware of the changes that happen when you are under pressure. In a way you need to become an observer of your own thoughts, emotions and actions. Are you feeling more irritable, more engaged, or more excited? Also, you can recognise the situation as it unfolds like a reporter. Ask yourself questions like, “What is happening now?”, “How do I feel about that?”, and “What am I going to do about that?”
While you often cannot change the pressure situation you are in, you can control your reactions to it. By observing yourself and then taking a third person position you can shift from reacting to guiding a path through the pressure situation.
The English language is full of idioms on ‘bending rules’ and ‘breaking rules’. While American general Douglas McArthur said, ‘ You are remembered for the rules you break.’ While the rebel without a cause and the lone cowboy project strong images (archetypes), sometimes breaking the rules is going to cost you. You have to be aware of which rules are contributing to your success.
In triathlon racing, the transition between getting off your bike and going out on the run is called T2 (transition 2). Once you cross the line into the transition area, you dismount and run with your bike to your station where you park your bike and put on your runners. One rule I didn’t know was that you cannot even start to take off your helmet while you are running to your station. The penalty is 15 seconds. This happened to me in a race and I was surprised and annoyed with myself. It cost me time but more important in an endurance race it cost me energy - being annoyed for a few seconds is energy that needs to be channeled into the awaiting run. In the same race, my team mate got stuck with the same penalty and that 15 seconds was the difference between her coming second and third!
As a frequent business traveler, I am always amazed as I go through security at how many people get caught up in the ‘emptying pockets’ section. It’s a rule that you know you are going to have to keep. No getting around that one. So why not put your loose change, keys and phone in your carry-on bag before getting to security. I have got it to the stage now that when I pass the metal detector, it doesn’t beep. I can move on without being “wanded” up and down. By knowing the rules of the game, I come prepared and sail through an area that causes a lot of stress for people.
Think about the things you do on a regular basis. Commuting, flying, or applying for visas. What rules of the game can’t you change? I live in the suburbs of Shanghai and I know that if I go into the city in the morning I need to leave before 0645 to guarantee a smooth trip that doesn’t involve being stuck in a long line of traffic. Or I can wait until 0930. My stress levels are reduced greatly and this helps me maintain a higher level of performance. If you are getting stuck in a ‘trap’, think about ways to work with the rules of the game.
Have fun and like any game, enjoy the process!
How to get yourself ready for peak performance? Laying the groundwork, being consistent, and visualizing the perfect outcomes all help. However, what you do in the last day or two have the biggest impact. This is when you need to simulate your performance.
In triathlon racing, this means swimming in the lake, river or sea that the race will be held. Ideally at the time that your swim will start. When I took part in a race in West China in August, the air temperature was very comfortable - dry and sunny. So it was a shock to jump into the lake and experience 19C water. It was freezing due to the high altitude and the fact that the water ran straight down from mountain glaciers! It was essential that I prepare myself mentally and physically for this type of environment. The high altitude also contributed to less oxygen in the water which made it harder to breathe. This meant I had to adapt my breathing style while swimming. This experience helped prepare me for the actual race conditions that lay ahead.
How can you prepare for peak performance? If you are giving a business presentation, find the actual room and stand there and deliver some of your presentation. Get a feel for the layout, the acoustics and the way the audience will be seated.
If it’s not practical to arrive a day ahead, arrive early. When I am hosting formal dinners, I will arrive in the afternoon and watch the room being set up and meet all the hotel staff, sound and video teams and check the stage and microphones personally. This way there are no surprises and I have done everything I can to reduce the big-night nerves.
Whenever you can, put yourself in the real situation. When presidential candidates are prepareing for the debates, they practise in rooms that have been created to imitate the debate settings. Give youself the best chance to shine by working on your final day preparations.
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