The Anti-Speaking Demon

A few weeks ago I took on the anti-writing demon and by no means do I have this one under control but I have been making progress. My red Moleskine journal is with me where ever I go so I can jot down and idea when it comes to me. Now, if I would write so I could read it, that would be progress!

I am not thinking about writing today, I am thinking about speaking. A friend sent me a call for presentations and if you are like me (head buried in the organizational sand) you may not know what this is. Well, this is the way the speakers at conferences end up in the brochure and in front of the audience. Calls go out, calls are answered and speakers are selected, unless of course you are established and they call you, but either way . . . process demystified.

So, I am looking at this call for presentations and the topics. There are at least two that I could talk about and with a little of coaching, could make it fun and engaging too. Interested? Check. Topic experience? Check. Proof of performance? Big fat uncheck. No proof of performance means an incomplete application. I don't have any proof of performance because, well, I haven't spoken. Yes, there's a demon involved and she's a tough one!

Not having any proof of performance yet is not the end of the world but it definitely is a swift kick in the shins. Moving forward I will silence the demon, develop my speaking skills and find opportunities to use them. 

If you've taken the leap to speak, what suggestions do you have for me and others? 

What's kicked you in the shins lately and what are you doing about it? 

Let me know by posting a comment or using the feedback widget in the sidebar.

Photo Credit iStockphoto 

Ready to React? Hit Pause.

I miss the energy and pace of Olympic short track. Skaters at the line, primed to go, skate tips in the ice, bodies into position, leaning into the start, the gun is about to fire and then . . . false start. A false start affects everyone as all of the skaters are sent back to the starting line to set up again.

False starts and racing go hand in hand like reaction and organizations. In organizations, reaction affects everyone. It is possible to send everyone back to the starting line in an organization - but it rarely happens. Something occurs, a leader reacts, the race is on, and folks, it's an all out recipe for disaster.

The Costs of Reaction

Organizations experience breakdowns each and every day. Although they may not be visible organization wide, make no mistake, they are there. They occur when what was heard was not what was said, what was determined was not what was intended, what was intended was ignored, what was reasoned was unreasonable, or the classic statement,  "nothing said I couldn't do it" is uttered.

Can you see it now? Managers at the line, primed to go, skate tips into the ice, bodies into position, leaning into the start and then  . . . reaction. A situation quickly progresses to finger pointing, blame and then the situation moves behind closed doors (only reactive managers allowed) and efforts are underway to do whatever it takes to ensure "that" never happens again.

At best, organizations that permit reactive leadership end up with people fighting for position, doing whatever they can to get to the finish line first - any way they can - and here's the kicker, ditching personal responsibility, accountability, and respect for the individual along the way.

A Giant Pause Button

It doesn't have to be that way.

In his post, The Space Between the Stimulus and the Response, Michael Hyatt writes about his personal experiences and finding the space that exists between the stimulus and the response. He writes, "This space is like a giant pause button. We don't have to react to every stimulus. Instead, we can pause, reflect, and chose our our response. This is precisely what makes us human."

See, if an event is the stimulus and reaction is the response, there is another way. The great thing about this is that anyone, yes, anyone, can hit the pause button and take time to cool down and not react or respond in defense, ego protection, or anger. 

Making the Right Choice

Although there is not a red starting line across the front lobby, the proverbial starting line is always present in an organization.  Feeling the urge, ready to pounce? Don't.

Hit the pause button, head back to the starting line and create some space. In this space is the power to choose. Choose well.

Photo credit iStock Photo