Here’s How You Coach Yourself into Thinking on Your Feet
RADA Business, the commercial arm of world-renowned drama school, is helping business leaders improve their confidence with the ability to improvise successfully in pressurised situations.
Kate Walker Miles, Client Manager and tutor at RADA Business, provides CEO Today with insight into how business professionals can master the art of improvisation in the workplace and communicate with clarity in any situation.
Harnessing the power of improvisation is a crucial talent for business leaders, as they are expected to adapt to a continuously changing world, lead by example and deliver their best performance, consistently.
Our latest research report, Thinking on Your Feet, identified that 81% of senior leaders feel that they are often placed in situations where they find it difficult to remain calm. Further to this, 37% of leaders admitted that high-pressure scenarios made it harder to prepare their thoughts.
As the stakes get higher, so do stress levels. Even when senior, experienced leaders are in situations where they feel under-prepared – their ability to improvise and think clearly is reduced. It’s crucial for leaders to be self-aware, uphold their status, and give themselves the time and space to prepare and react appropriately in different circumstances.
Harnessing the power of improvisation is a crucial talent for business leaders, as they are expected to adapt to a continuously changing world, lead by example and deliver their best performance, consistently.
Building upon the techniques used by actors, those in leadership positions can equip themselves with the skills to successfully improvise, feel present and comfortable in the moment and show authenticity. It is vital for leaders to build resilience, encourage creativity in their teams to keep up with a changing world, with the ability to flex their leadership style to all business situations.
It’s fair to say, there’s a lot to contend with and think about. Nevertheless, what are the techniques that can help us and how can leaders apply them?
Release physical tension
Entering any situation with physical tension in the body makes it more difficult to remain calm and relaxed. If you are tense, your brain is less likely to generate creative ideas or new solutions. Give yourself a moment before a meeting to release any negative energy by stretching away the stresses of the day. Tilt your head up and then down, left to right, looking over both your shoulders to release any tension stored in the upper body. Shake out the arms, raise your shoulders up to your ears and down again, followed by slowly stretching your arms, one-by-one, to the ceiling. Even the gentlest of movements can rejuvenate your body, so that you’re better prepared for the next challenge of the day.
Even the gentlest of movements can rejuvenate your body, so that you’re better prepared for the next challenge of the day.
Ground yourself
Once you have released some physical tension, it’s time to focus on your base and posture. Start by placing your feet firmly on the floor, a hip-width apart, to give you a strong base to operate from. Aligning your body helps you to hold status, and makes it easier to avoid the habit of shrinking, fidgeting, or containing yourself in difficult situations. We want to be physically open to solving problems, as well as behaviourally. Any fixed or rigid position in the body always links to a corresponding rigidity (mentally and emotionally) – this will both affect your thinking and your audience’s perception of you.
Breathe
Breathing allows you to calm your nerves, which often present themselves in situations where you feel uncertain or under pressure. Breathe out through the mouth, slowly and deeply, and breath in the through the nose. Feel your belly expand as your breathe in. This helps you to think laterally and clearly as you prepare your next thought to respond.
Eye contact
Maintain eye contact with the person you’re speaking to, as this helps to build a stronger relationship and delivers your message more clearly. Avoid looking down or scanning the room as you can lose impact, which will affect how effectively you communicate. This is true for a situation whether you’re giving positive feedback, taking part in a tricky negotiation, or answering and asking difficult questions in a board meeting.
The ability to think on your feet is a powerful tool and vital at all stages of business. These simple techniques equip leaders with the skills to improvise successfully and can be adapted to any situation.
Encouraging a workplace culture that supports creative thinking and giving behaviour can hugely increase the effectiveness of any business. Helping employees to feel more relaxed, confident and empowered in difficult situations allows business professionals to prepare their thoughts, and ultimately make better decisions.
