My Brain Has Been Hijacked!
Stress is one of those dreaded emotions that shows up at the worst possible times--right before a big presentation, an important meeting, or project deadline. It can literally hijack our brains; robbing us of the ability (albeit temporarily) to think clearly, converse intelligently, and perform productively.
If you're anything like me, I prefer to write a letter, an email, or a beautiful presentation rather than stand in front of a crowd or even a panel of people. But the reality is, it's a tool I --and every business person-- need to have in my bag to offer my best to my company. As the marketing, branding, and communications point person for the Chamber, I need to speak effectively and confidently to best represent our organization to the community. Two things I focus on when I know I have an important speaking engagement or meeting: 1. Know your subject matter inside and out/forward and backward. 2. Focus on why it's important to you/your company/the community etc. This will help you recall important points that you want to present to your audience--whether it's 300 or one individual.
In a recent newsletter I receive from life and business coach Lynn Carnes, she talks about what stress can cost us both professionally (read dollar signs) and personally (growth) and shares her tools to stop stress from hijacking our brains and our success. Lynn presented these tools in The Power of Positivity on August 10, 2017 at the Countryside Event Center. If you missed the event, here is an excerpt from her blog.
Read on to learn how to tackle stress!
By Lynn Carnes
(Reprinted with permission)
Tell me if this has happened to you...you’re standing in front of the mirror practicing that epic speech – the one you need to give to your boss to get the promotion you deserve. Or you are pacing the house planning the crucial presentation for the Board. Maybe driving to work you are rehearsing that speech for a coworker who is underperforming and you know it’s time to lay down the law. Or you have a super difficult conversation to have with a family member – maybe a sibling not pulling their weight or a parent needing more care. You get the picture.
You finally feel like you are ready, you know exactly what you want to say. You have prepared for every comeback you can think of and planned for every
So, you walk into the situation, prepared, confident, and ready to go.
As the time gets closer, your heart starts to race and those nerves start flaring up. The person is now in front of you and it’s time to deliver that epic speech. The butterflies start and suddenly you have tunnel vision and a dry mouth. Everything you wanted to say flies right out of your brain and you start stammering to the point you are not even sure what you are saying.
Your time is over, your speech has been delivered and you have no idea what you said or if it made sense. You walk out the room, your memory is coming back and you realize you forgot to tell them the most important parts and you feel like what was said may have been a bunch of gibberish. AAAAAAHHHHHHHH not again!
When we are under pressure, our brain rushes to “help” us. (Our brain really wants us to survive – remember this. It’s critical to changing your mind.) That lovely mass of gray cells between our ears offers these lovely choices: Fight, Flight, or Freeze.
These are not open, listening, persuasive modes. This is survival. What is your default? Mine is fight all too often. It’s not been a great tactic over the years – just ask anybody on the other side of one of my punches.
When we are in life threatening situations, survival mode is a marvelous thing … but staring at your boss or the board member like a deer in the headlights or getting belligerent with a family member doesn’t serve you well. You need to be better than your nerves. You need to be at your best.
Imagine being able to respond calmly under the most intense pressure. What if you could still perform like a maestro even with every nerve in your body screaming stop this madness?
That’s the point of this Coaching Digest. We are highlighting your power under pressure. And you have the most awesome resource at your disposal.
What is it? It’s your ability to tell a different story about anything. You can read more about it in the blog post “Master Your Stories.” If you truly own the idea that you are the co-writer of your life, you will be astounded at the difference it makes in how you experience those pressure-filled moments.
If the idea of mastering your stories (and mastering your mind) has piqued your interest, “Your Brain at Work” is an outstanding book to understand better how your brain works for and against you, especially in today’s distraction, pressure-filled world.
This month’s tool takes all that brain research and puts it on one page. It works.
With time, practice, and personal discipline, these resources can take your game up significantly. I hope you take advantage of them.
I can think of no better way to learn your own habits and patterns under pressure and then change them. These are learnable skills if you are committed and a bit courageous.
Use the Tool!
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If you are interested in learning more, visit her site, Creative Spirits Unleashed at lynncarnes.com.
