A fundamental element of being in action is that chaos sets in. Not the type of chaos where things feel like being totally out of control, but a sense of not being in control.
An action is something we do without knowing what will come out of it or what will happen. Our experience, practice, and learning give us an idea of what to expect. But what is happening for this specific action is still to be determined, and the uncertainty of the outcome never disappears.
It brings the banana skin we have not seen that sends us flying, it appears in the friendly client who shows us a better way to do things than we have been used to, it is the surprise of a slippery road on which we catch ourselves without knowing how we did it.
Something we can do to raise our ability to deal with not being in control is to prepare ourselves for it.
It involves establishing the circumstances in which there is as little as possible that will distract us when acting. For example, when cooking, it is to verify that all ingredients are available and the needed tools ready and functioning. When coaching it is at least having a plan of the way we’ll address the meeting and an emptied mind when stepping into the session. There will be more to it depending on the relationship and the existing agreements. Our experience and professionalism add deontology, the care for a proper setting, and our personal style of coaching. A style that results from knowing and accepting oneself, more than from following our habits.
Walking on the slack line taught me how my brain regulates movements much better than I can do it consciously. Playing golf helps me see how setting up a routine reduces the mental distractions during the swing. Asking questions with curiosity and full awareness shows me how often others have a different perspective than I have.
Any time we try to control our action we’ll experience how the execution derails. Creating the circumstances easing the execution through preparation reduces the habitual desire to control the events when unexpected distractions appear and allows our practice and experience to step in.
It raises our chances to perform at our best.
