Back to school time brought an insightful quote from Brad Weinstein: “Students are not adults. They need help with time management, study skills, prioritizing tasks, social skills, character development, etc. Instead of assuming immaturity or irresponsibility, assume they need help.”
Does that quote shift your perspective about a current project? Have you felt like a student who was failing, when what you really needed was help polishing your approach?
Before you throw in the towel, take a second look and fine-tune the way you’re working. Switching from a fixed to a flexible mindset may change everything.
Let me tell you how a friend taught me how staying agile was critical for solid relationships and success.
I saw a lot of bands and their road crews come and go when I worked in the music business. I got one of the best road managers I know talking one night over drinks, and the war stories about technical staff or “roadies” were flying. I thought Marc would tell me he looked for someone with deep equipment knowledge or a killer resume. But, instead, he stress tested for one characteristic: Agility.
Marc reflected, “It’s always something when you’re on the road. A thunderstorm delays a flight. The bus picking you up at the airport gets a flat, and now you have to find alternate transportation. The meal at the venue is a little off. And don’t get me started on everything that can go wrong with the sound equipment!”
“That’s why I always ask people for examples of how they handle those hiccups.” He shook his head and sighed, “When a roadie brags about screaming at the hotel sign-in clerk or getting into it with the promoter, I thank them and move on.”
“Yeah, but everyone loses their temper,” I countered.
“True—bad days are going to happen,” Marc agreed. “But I need someone who can think on their feet when things go wrong. People who can only double down or meltdown just wind up reflecting poorly on the Artist.”
In the October series, Three Ways to Use Soft Skills for Elegant Execution, we’re discussing how you can use soft skills to dust off your To Do list and keep your sanity. Have you known people who double down and meltdown when something or a bunch of somethings get in the way of their perfect plan? I have—and it’s not pretty!
But here’s how to stay on track for elegant execution: Practice soft skill How tactics like agility and emotional intelligence. Take stock of a changing environment and then adjust. Shifting in a subtle, intentional way shows strategy, self-awareness, and maturity, and everyone loves that kind of leader in the room!
Now, let’s make it personal and go back to the beginning, where we talked about a work project or charity event starting to go sideways. Instead of grinding and forcing a single outcome, step back to understand where there are opportunities to be flexible and agile.
Here are three ways to start:
The next time a roadblock pops up, don’t compound a comedy of errors by getting defensive. In its place, keep your approach and execution nimble.
If you’re new to soft skills or want a refresher, boss up with my free 15-minute course, “Soft Skills Basics in a Flash.” You’ll learn what soft skills are, why people who understand soft skills stand out in a crowd, and practical, actionable ways to use soft skills every day. With the bonus 1-pager, “7 Ways to Pitch Your Soft Skills Superpower” in your back pocket, you’ll leave calm, self-assured, and ready to speak soft skills with anyone who asks.