Ever go blank in front of hundreds of people? It happened to two professional ballet dancers while performing a pas de deux. They were circling the stage, arm in arm, the epitome of grace and power.
Suddenly “Sarah” and “Mitchell” forgot their next move. Sarah whispered to her partner, “Do you know what’s next?”
He whispered back, “I don’t remember.”
They couldn’t figure out how they were supposed to break out of the circling and they were fast becoming like an aircraft that winds its way around a control tower, unsure when it will be allowed to land.
The pair decided their best course of action was to continue dancing around the stage. After a few of laps, muscle memory kicked in and they were able to continue the performance.
While their fellow dancers and the orchestra were wondering what was going on with the two seasoned performers, they adjusted their performances to match the improvisation.
Sarah and Mitchell, while embarrassed by their confession, were proud that hardly anyone in the audience ever realized that something went wrong. How did they Clear the Path in such a challenging situation?
- They stayed calm. Stopping was not an option for the dancers. They kept moving and honored the audience and the performance.
- They trusted one another. The dancers put their egos aside and asked each other for help. While neither could deliver an immediate solution, they approached the problem with a united front.
- They had good training. Eventually, the hours of practice paid off as their memories returned. ?Mastery of a craft does not mean you are mistake free. Rather, you are able to calmly find solutions to unexpected problems. It’s very rare that you see a high performer who panics. Practice gives you a foundation for success.
There will come a time when the unexpected arrives on the job. ?You’ll be fine if you accept the situation calmly, have allies who can help you regain your focus, and have the training to find a good solution.
You may not receive a standing ovation but sometimes our biggest successes are the challenges we fix when everyone is watching.
