I send only occasional newsletters to limit email volume. So the ones I do send need to be good! The most recent newsletter had a technical glitch and linked readers to the wrong article. Ironically, the newsletter was about how to brand yourself successfully. Clearly, technology that works is an important part! How embarrassing!
This unexpected glitch reminded me of a coaching client who turned really big lemons into awesome lemonade. There is a lesson for us all in the story. This man, I’ll come him Steve, manages several offices in a large firm. Here is Steve’s story:
Story of the Day
Steve was hosting a large event for advisors and top clients from multiple offices. The evening featured a prominent economist who was THE speaker for the event. Just before the speaker was to arrive, Steve got a message that the plane was delayed and the speaker could not arrive. No speaker, no event!
I greatly admire Steve for his many outstanding qualities. In this case, his creativity coupled with optimism, humility and honesty saved the day. Steve decided there was no way to replace a missing speaker, so he didn’t try.
After the clients arrived he announced the change and then invited the guests to spend an evening of good food and conversation. He worked with the kitchen to provide dinner and then spent the evening making sure all were having a good time. In the end, the guests had a fabulous time and the advisors had fruitful conversations with their clients. Everyone was thrilled. Truly, a smashing example of making lemons into awesome lemonade!
Here are the principles that I think created the win:
- Didn’t try to hide the glitch
- Didn’t fill in with an inadequate substitute
- Respected the guests and confessed immediately
- Set the stage for an enjoyable alternative
- Served the needs of the guests and advisors
Tip of the Day
A prominent research neurologist told me personally, that stress impairs the brain more severely than drinking. Wow! We all know how badly alcohol dulls the brain. Stress is even worse. One of the biggest stress inducers is fear of failure or fear of humiliation. When faced with a sudden “failure” we tend to freeze or cover-up. My friend Steve did not, instead he used his creativity and produced a huge win!
How do we do this? Here are four steps for using your creativity when faced with sudden unexpected events:
- Stop & Breathe! (This will prevent your Amygdala – the “lizard brain” from taking over your reactions)
- Talk yourself down from “Awful-izing” (We immediately assume it’s going to be a disaster!!! Real life is usually much less dramatic)
- Respect others more than your reputation (When we try to protect our reputation, it’s often at other’s expense. Dismiss selfish urges and focus on other’s needs)
- Go forward NOT back (Focusing on a new alternative will open creativity. Trying to go back and recover the old plan will more likely drive a botched fix or cover-up)
Resource of the Day
The power of personal stories in 2 parts:
Part 1: Think of people you know that recovered gracefully from sudden unexpected events. What did they do that fell flat? What did they do that worked?
Part 2: When you have you faced similar situations? What worked? What didn’t?
Take-away: What powerful lessons will drive your success when the unexpected happens?
