Do you find you barrel from one thing to another at work? Finish one meeting or call and then jump straight into or onto the next? How about when you arrive at a meeting? Do you like to get there early and settle in, suss out the terrain as it were – or do you clatter in and wished you had a couple of minutes to gather yourself?
Well, if you’ve said “Yes” to any or all of the above, firstly you’re not alone. This is the MO as my friend Norman used to call it (modus operandi – way of working – I had to look it up when he told me) of so many women. We think we can fit one more call in or give five more minutes of attention on something before jumping to the next thing.
What’s interesting too is that in our desire to be ‘on it’ and be seen as being busy and in need, if you will, we sacrifice our precious state of mind. Our state.
When you look up ‘State’ in this context in the dictionary it offers “the particular condition that someone or something is in at a specific time” and when your particular condition is just rush, rush, rush then we miss out on preparing ourselves for the best state of mind to be in for the situation.
If you build in extra time to just prepare your state; to think about what you want to have happen, what you want to say, include or avoid, decide as you move through your day, you’ll find you won’t be operating on the back foot. You’ll be ‘at choice’ as I’ve heard it called.
The difference it makes to your energy as you consider how you want to show up, how you want people to perceive you can make the difference between you getting the response you want – or not.
We all know we pick up on others’ energy: their breathing, their pausing and their demeanour and they pick up on ours of course. Women tell me they rush from one thing to another and say they’re conscious of their heels being heard clattering down the hallway or stairs. This gives the impression we’re on the back foot. Hurried. Late.
So if any or all of the above has made you nod, here are a few things to do instead:
Take a breath when you put the phone down. Take just a moment – 30 seconds – to stare into space and consider what just happened. What was agreed and what you noticed.
Dial in to conference lines a few minutes before you need to be there. Be the one who’s ready rather than scrabbling around finding the dial-in details.
Even if you’re late, gather yourself in the lift or in the restrooms before. Just for a moment. Instead of running or bustling to where you’re going, try consciously striding with measured steps. It calms you down.
Choose your state. Tell yourself how you’ll be as you move to your next meeting, call or engagement. Instead of “I hope I’ll get what I want” or “I must make this happen” try to be more specific with yourself. “I’m calm, open and committed” for example. It tells your brain what state you want to be in.
Personal presence is one of those ethereal things. People feel your energy, your gaze, your breathing, your pace and all those ingredients come from your state.
Let’s make it your time to shine, in your own way. When would now be a better time to go for Promotion, Recognition and Rewards?
For more information and immediately helpful tips on how to connect and be valued and heard in business: www.kaywhite.com
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