| Welcome
Since my last newsletter I have had lots of adventures. Including (like many of the British public) getting caught up in the Icelandic volcanic ash situation. During this 'adventure' I got to observe some interesting human behaviour and I'd like to share this with you.
Read on to learn about how your focus can make a difference in challenging situations.
Warm Regards
Nicky
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| Reacting to the unexpected | |
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I was lucky enough to be asked to coach on a global leadership programme for a client  that is based in America. It was whilst travelling back from the US that I got caught up in the Icelandic volcanic ash situation. During my flight home the UK airports were closed, so myself and my fellow passengers were amongst the first travellers to be impacted by the volcano. We were redirected to another country and, on landing, there was very little news on what had happened or what the implications were. It is at this point the fun and games began. Observing my fellow passengers' reactions to the situation was quite insightful and a great case study for human behaviour. Obviously the event was unexpected and unplanned. Clearly the impact was going to cause inconvenience and disruption. But the responses to these realities were very interesting. Some people got upset resulting in either tears or anger. Some people resigned themselves to the situation and seemed defeated. And some people got resourceful and almost seemed energised by the situation. Which do you think was most helpful? |
| It's all in the focus | |
| Notice that I didn't say which response was right or wrong - most of the people probably reacted automatically and unconsciously. However our reactions can be helpful or unhelpful depending on our situation. This was an event that was outside of all the passengers' control.
A model that I often use with my clients to help them to think about their reactions to  circumstances, particularly if it is a situation that it outside of their control is called the Circles of Focus*. It is based on the concept of four circles.
Circle 4 = Things that are outside of our awareness.
What we don't know, we can't think about or control
Circle 3 = Things that are outside of our control and influence. Things like the weather, the economy and the Icelandic volcano.
Circle 2 = Things that are outside of our control but within our influence.
These things could include our customers that we try to convince to buy from us or our children that we try to persuade to eat their vegetables.
Circle 1 = Things that are within our control and within our influence.
Ultimately the only thing that is within our control and influence is ourselves - how we think and how we react.
It is useful to think about where you spend most of your time focussing. The most effective place to focus our attention is generally in the inner circle (Circle 1) - the Circle of Control and Influence. This is especially true when faced with situations that are out of our control and influence. To spend time focusing on things that are outside of our control and influence only leads to feelings of frustration and disempowerment.
* Based on Steven Covey's Circles of Influence in Seven Habits of Highly Effective People |
| Choose your focus | |
I often imagine that we each walk around with a metaphorical miners helmet on our heads (no I'm not mad - this will become clear). You know the kind of helmet I mean - the one with the light on the front. At any moment in time we can choose where we  shine the light of our focus.
Out of my fellow passengers it seemed that the ones that reacted the most helpfully were the ones who shone their light onto the the things they could control and influence. It was these people that responded the most resourcefully.
When our backs are against the wall the thing that matters most is not our resources but our resourcefulness.
If you would like help in choosing a better focus to become more resourceful please get in contact:
T: +44 (0)1902 895310
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