Summary: There’s a reason we sometimes fail miserably at tasks we can usually execute standing on one leg, while juggling puppies with our eyes closed. You might have killed a presentation to one group and then failed miserably when delivering it to another. How can someone be so bad immediately after being so good?
As a stand-up comedian, I have seen this firsthand. To manage it, I believe in starting my gigs by first building trust with the audience. I usually structure my sets with the safer and more palatable material at the top before moving on to content that is more contentious or risqué.
As my performance progresses and the audience starts to like and understand me, a foundation of trust begins to form. The audience is then more willing to let me lead them to places where they may not have been willing to go initially.
As an executive coach I am always respectful of my clients’ knowledge and experience. First, I make an effort to understand them and the context in which they operate. Second, I don’t presume or proclaim to know better. I explore developmental paths together, based on the response I get from my client’s actions in real time.
Read the full article as published in Harvard Business Review HERE.
Below are a few interesting articles, in case you missed them recently.
Have a lovely weekend!