I am a big fan of Social Psychologist Amy Cuddy. If you haven’t read her book, Presence or watched her Ted Talk, you’re missing out.
In times of crisis, Cuddy indicates we shouldn’t be looking to the past or the future for answers. She suggests that overcoming obstacles begins with eliminating distractions.
The Harvard University lecturer and author of Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, Cuddy explained in a virtual keynote to Inc. 5000 honorees this week that productivity-sapping emotions such as anxiety, dread, and distraction come from thinking too much about the past and future. Staying present, Cuddy explains, can help you approach difficult situations with composure and find solutions with confidence.
"It's the power to bring yourself forward to express your most confident, competent, trustworthy, decent, awesome self in stressful situations," Cuddy says. "It is the ability to control your own states, your own behaviours, and, to some extent, your own outcomes."
Here are three of Cuddy's tips for how to make the most of a bad situation.
View challenges as opportunities.
When presented with a challenge, Cuddy advises reframing the situation. If you feel nervous to approach someone, for example, think of them as a collaborator or an ally, rather than as a competitor. Changing viewpoints can make you feel more in control of coming up with a solution to your problems.
"When we feel powerful, it leads us to act," Cuddy says. "When we feel powerless, we don't act."
Don't fake it until you make it.
Faking it until you make it works in some situations, but not when it comes to relationships. The best relationships are built on trust and authenticity--not on overstating your abilities.
"Unfortunately, we often make the mistake in work situations of showing off our skills and our strengths before showing that we are trustworthy," Cuddy says. "When we neglect that piece, this other piece--the strength, the competence, the skills--they just don't matter, especially for leaders who really need to inspire people to do their best work."
Avoid panicking at all costs.
When presented with something that makes you panic, Cuddy advises business owners to think of a time when you felt your best, whether it was finishing your first successful fundraising meeting, landing your biggest client, or even at a personal event such as a wedding. By contrasting the panic with a good feeling, it can help you reset your approach to the situation and feel more present.
"When we feel present, we're not doubting who we are [and] we believe in ourselves," Cuddy says. "And when we believe in ourselves, we believe in what we're selling."
Want to develop your presence and stay clam during a crisis? Send me an email at michelle@bakjacconsulting.com to enquire about coaching and training to build your strategies.
Michelle Bakjac is an experienced Psychologist, Organisational Consultant, Coach, Speaker and Facilitator. As Director of Bakjac Consulting, she is a credentialed Coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF) and a member of Mental Toughness Partners and an MTQ48 accredited Mental Toughness practitioner. Michelle assists individuals and organisations to develop their Mental Toughness to improve performance, leadership, behaviour and wellbeing. You can find her at www.bakjacconsulting.com or michelle@bakjacconsulting.com
