Do you pass the rocking horse test?
A rocking horse is in almost constant motion. Yet it never gets anywhere. Because no matter how hard it works, it never does anything differently.
More effort isn't the answer. It's getting more out of the effort you already put in.
THE CHALLENGEBusy is not the same as progress
Many of us know the feeling: the calendar is full, we work hard, and yet the important things don't move. It's not a question of dedication. It's a question of how we use our effort, especially when the pressure rises.
In a workshop for a mentor network, that's exactly what we worked on: how do we get more out of our effort and turn it into better results? More bang for the buck. Here are the four techniques we trained.
TECHNIQUE 1Distancing
How do we create distance and objectivity, so we can think clearly under pressure? When we step back and look at the situation from the outside, as if it were about someone else, stress levels drop and clarity returns. Read more about Distance
TECHNIQUE 2Priming
How do we prepare the brain for success before it counts? By playing the situation through in advance and seeing ourselves succeed, we train the brain to navigate it, so we're not meeting it for the first time when the stakes are high. Read more about Prime
TECHNIQUE 3Connect
How do we increase our positive impact on other people? Results are rarely created alone. When we understand what creates trust and safety for the people around us, our effort has far greater impact. Read more about Connect
THE FOUNDATIONThe strategic pause
And of course the pause, because it's the basis for performing better. Taking a deep breath and giving yourself 2-4 seconds before you answer or start your presentation is probably the most underrated and effective technique there is.
Those few seconds are often the difference between reacting on instinct and consciously choosing your response. And that's where the rocking horse starts moving forward. Read more about the pause
Want to train it with your team? That's exactly what my workshops and talks are about.