Your brain does its best work when you focus it in one direction at a time, especially when it comes to speaking and listening. Most of us invest too much psychic energy sending signals with our hands and mouth in an attempt to communicate we’re listening. The reality is we’re not locked in and listening when our bodies and mouth are in motion. Our brain is going in too many different directions. We miss some signals, sometimes critical ones, in the process. Your brain does it’s best when it’s not multi-tasking. Think about it…
Today, during practice 119 with kman’s team of krazies, we practiced connecting with our SEAL buddies around our explanatory style. Yes, the way you and I explain events to ourselves matters – it matters a great deal. Elite performers, remember, go through the same adversities as average ones. Instead of allowing themselves to lose energy in the adversity, the elite explain to themselves that what just happened is gonna make them stronger – and so it does. Elite performers are not some kinda Polly-Anna, rose colored glasses variety either. Elite performers are realistic, responsible, and optimistic in the most mentally tough kinda way. Build some of this, friend.
You and I are not master listeners. We live in a noisy, distracted, interrupt driven world of the media’s making. We will not become master connectors without unplugging from all kinda technology and tuning in to a buddy or two. There are no short cuts to becoming elite. You gotta learn from all kinds of people, processes, and problems. You gotta learn to pick up all kinda nuance you right now are most likely missing ’cause you can’t keep your mouth shut, your eye’s focused, your brain from multi-tasking, and your mind from thinking ahead. Elite performers are master connectors. They aren’t master connectors because they simply want a wider network and the possibility of some linked-in leverage. Elite performers are master connectors because they want to get better. They have come to believe that nobody is as smart as everybody, so they get busy tuning in like an animal being stalked.
Today, in practice 119, I learned we’ve got a long way to go toward building our tuneage to another. A long way to go to becoming master listeners. And, the quicker we master this art the more piercing our challenges will become and the better we will all be because of it. Your explanatory style matters, it matters a great deal. The calmer you remain when adversity strikes, the more clearly you’ll think, the more positively you’ll react, the better questions you will ask yourself and those around you, and the stronger you’ll become. Real strength is a good thing.
Good…
BUILT TO LEAD 