How To Thrive During Uncertain Times

"Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security."
- John Allen Paulos (Writer and Speaker)

Over the last 2 years I have been learning comedy improvisation with the excellent London-based theatre company and corporate trainers, The Spontaneity Shop.  I have performed in about 5 shows so far and it's been great fun.

But whilst I've really enjoyed it, it's not something I have found easy.

You see, in a work environment, I can deal with change, think on my feet and "wing it" with the best of them. But when it comes to walking the uncertain tight-rope of comedy improvisation - on stage with no script and absolutely no idea what will happen next - I've found it challenging and consequently been a slow learner.

But earlier this year, I finally started to 'get it'. Around May/June time with the direction of the tutors at the Spontaniety Shop, I finally started to learn and internalise the key lessons on how to handle (and indeed enjoy) the uncertainty that goes with making it up as you go along on stage.

There are 8 key lessons or rules I learned. Rules which I think apply equally to comedy improvisation as they do to walking the tight rope of managing careers during these uncertain times.

1.  Listen, observe and be totally present

On stage, I've often found my attention focused anywhere but on the present - I'm thinking about what to say next, about ways to be funny or ways to end a scene with a bang. When in fact what I should be doing is taking a Zen-like approach to simply listening to and observing what is happening in the scene right NOW.

That's exactly what you need to be doing in these uncertain times. Forget the past and who is to blame for the crises, don't think too much about the future - just listen, observe and stay tuned into what is happening right now in your market, in your firm and in your team.

2. Stop planning

In tandem with focusing on the present, stop planning. This is the bit I've found most difficult when improvising as it's completely counter-intuitive. My big picture brain hinders me on stage because it zooms off trying to plan ahead. But by learning to stop thinking ahead and stop planning, I find I'm much more successful.

The same applies to career management in modern times - stop over-thinking through all the options and plans. Things are far too complex and unpredictable to plan through them.

3. Focus only on the next step 

Instead of planning ahead, the real key to both improvisation and managing careers in times of uncertainty is to focus only on the next step. An improv scene and your career are far too complex and uncertain to plan through - so just stay focused on the next step.

Over-thinking and over-planning during uncertain times is a sure-fire way to paralyse yourself with fear and indecision.  Just like on stage, once you're paralysed - the game is over. 

4. Be instinctive

A great improviser follows their instincts boldly without fear or hesitation. They may not know where an action or decision will take them, but their courage and willingness to trust their instincts makes them successful.

To manage careers during uncertainty, you too need to follow your gut instinct much more than your rational head. Your rational head will have no idea what to do in complex times which it has never experienced before. Your intuition on the other hand will.

5. Focus on making a contribution

When entering the stage halfway through a scene, improvisers are encouraged to forget their own agenda (and their egos) and instead focus on 'adding to' and contributing to what's already going on.

Right now, that's what you need to be doing. Adding to what's already happening in your employer's business and creating value is what makes you much more valuable to both your current employer and potential new ones.

6. Let go of the outcome

The best improvisation scenes occur when you are brave enough to let go of the outcomes, so that you can only focus on two things: the present and the next step and accept that a scene will unravel and go in any number of directions out of your control.

During uncertain times, it's important to let go of attachment to the outcome (e.g. a certain job, a certain salary etc). It may seem completely counter-intuitive to the conventional world of setting clear career goals. But these are not conventional times we're in right now.

7.  Be OK with screwing up

The motto of The Spontaneity Shop is "We suck and we love to fail!" Screwing up you see is positively encouraged in the world of improvisation as it is a sign of progress. If you're not screwing up and falling regularly, you're not taking enough chances to make yourself successful. You're not testing the boundaries of creativity and so you'll never make any breakthroughs. 

The same applies to you and your career during uncertain times. Screwing up will actually make you more successful because it teaches you valuable lessons which actually speed up your progress. But your focus should be on making "Excellent Mistakes" which Dan Pink (the author and commentator on the modern work place) refers to as "screw ups where the benefits of what you learn are greater than what you lose by screwing up."

So whilst most of your peers are frozen with indecision and fear - be willing to make bold choices, take measured risks and be open to making "Excellent Mistakes." It's the sure-fire way to ultimately be successful in your career.  

8. Make strong character choices

Regardless of how uncertain a scene may be, improvisers are encouraged to quickly make firm choices about what character traits to take on. Adopting a clear attitude and character helps you carve out a meaningful scene from nothing whilst satisfy and entertaining the audience.

This same point is never more important than right now: you need to make a firm character choice and decide 'who' you are going to be in this market.  Once you have done that, the appropriate behaviours and actions flow from that choice. And adopting some of the above points becomes much easier.

Performing comedy improvisation on stage can be a scary and unnerving experience - even for the most seasoned of improvisers. But it can also be exciting, fun and quite exhilarating. It all depends on the attitude you take on and your willingness to stick to the 8 rules above.

The same thing applies to managing your career during these uncertain times. Whilst you will be scared and unnerved at times - the next few months can also be exciting, satisfying and exhilarating times for you. It all depends on whether you are willing to adopt some of the ideas above and whether you choose an attitude which will enable you to thrive.

As I have found with my experience of learning to improvise on stage, learning to handle uncertainty in times of major change doesn't happen overnight. But with the right attitude, support, commitment and a willingness to learn, there is no reason why you will not only deal with the uncertainty but indeed thrive in the coming months.

By Sital Ruparelia, cross posted on 6 Figure Career Management Blog

 

Comments

[Julia]

This was a very timely post for me this week. Against my instincts I took a new job in a new city in the summer, with plans to move there in the spring. But over the course of the last 5 months, I've realized that I don't actually like the job all that much & don't want to move to the new city. So I'm now just focusing on contributing to my current employer as much as I can while I look for a new position. I've come to terms with the fact that it was a mistake for me to take this job, and am now focusing on finding the new job that will make me happy. Whatever the outcome is, I'm ready for it. Cheers!

[Sital]

Julia, thanks for the comments

Despite the fact you went against your instincts, it wasnt necessarily a 'mistake' as you've moved one step closer to the right role. I bet you are now:

1. More aware about what you like/dont like, what you want/dont want
2. Better tuned into your intuition
3. More confident about taking some risks because you know that even if it doesn't work out - it's not a disaster as you'll benefit in other ways
4. Have at least one new friend or contact from the new town who you'll keep in touch with

All of which puts you ahead of 90% of people out there. Just think, if you hadnt have made the move, you would not have benefitted in this way

Best of luck with the next move!

S

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