Stress Doc's Tips for High Performance
As Stress Coach for the National Capital YMCA, I've discovered that my professional speaking and workshop leading experience experience has a lot of performance transferability. Concepts, skills and strategies that I've developed over many years through practice, small and big-time mistakes and, despite the ego bruises, getting back in the speaker's saddle can be utilized in a variety of high performance sporting events or creative activities. For example, a few years back I was asked to draw on this experience and write a short article for the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, DC. The specific focus: "How to Keep Your Artistic Creativity Alive." Let me diagnose the problem and then provide my "top ten" solutions. To quote from Arts Washington:
Optimal levels of stress heighten intensity and can both broaden perspective and sharpen focus. This kind of good stress propels the artist to and along the creative edge. But for those who find it to be a way of life, chronic stress can consume confidence, energy and productivity... Debilitating levels of stress disrupt or drain the creative flow. The "stressed-out" artist often displays one or more of the following symptoms:
** Procrastination. Difficulty getting started, because of either diminished confidence or conversely, because of expectations of perfection. These induce procrastination or blockage.
** Persistence Problems. Inability to sustain concentration and effort because of juggling too many projects or continually pondering whether there can be life after deadlines.
** Hypermotivation. Overly motivated to the point that the artist cannot suspend critical judgment to explore playfully the creative concept. Old critical voices, whose volume often increases as stress mounts, can become the taskmaster.
** Rigid Impatience. Intolerance of complex or uncertain situations as one is too impatient for a solution. Goal and process, the ends and the means are out of balance.
** Overly Cautious. Becoming risk-averse or having paralyzing doubts about living up to previous performance or production standards.
** Stage Fright. This concept was illustrated recently in my column about a highly anxious trial attorney struggling with "The Paradox of Peak Performance." I have also discussed my personal performance struggles breaking into television. (For example, read "Confronting the Intimate FOE: Fear Of Exposure." Check out my website: http://www.stressdoc.com or AOL's Online Psych. (Keyword: Stress Doc).
Consider these strategic tips to overcome an unproductive stress cycle and to strengthen your performance. (I will space the tips out over a couple of columns.)
1. Start Early. Give yourself sufficient lead time on a performance project. Many people claim the eleventh hour brings out their best performance. I believe some folks confuse finally breaking out of slothful inertia, and their concomitant adrenalin rush, with peak performance. It's rare that last minute management results in a truly creative effort. The latter requires preoccupation and preparation. First you need to leisurely mull and play with, along with study, a variety of performance or project elements (a divergent style of perceiving). Then you try to "put it together," choosing the essential ingredients while progressively sharpening and unifying the focus and product (a convergent style of problem-solving).
2. Wander Into an Outline. Mental meandering is double-edged. Uncertainty or aimlessness can be decidedly frustrating. What's my direction, my goal? (On the other hand, one of my favorite axioms is: "I don't know where I'm going...I just think I know how to get there.") Yet, aimless wandering often facilitates stumbling upon the overlooked or, even, "the obvious." And when our path is not set in stone, it may be easier to find a little known path or procedure, to explore new or unexpected connections among the performance-project components - techniques, concepts, etc.
Eventually, you also need some organized structure or sequence for hanging these new components, concepts and connections. For example, I always build a working outline for workshop or speaking programs. I may deviate or jump off my scaffolding, but I also want a landing upon which I can return after one of my flights of fancy.
In closing, if you intend to be both divergent and a bit deviant, you know what to do...Practice Safe Stress!
Feedback Segment: How about sharing your thoughts on how you, friends or colleagues use humor in dealing with stress, conflict or moods, yours or others, in your personal life, at home or at work? HFTE will run the best stories and, of course, credit you. (And the real lagniappe, you become a member of the Stress Doc's StressBusters Club.) Also, email me to learn more about "The Stress Doc's" upcoming serious and humorous on-line support/chat group -- "The Frequent Sighers Club.
Mark Gorkin, "The Stress Doc," Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is a nationally recognized speaker, workshop leader and author on stress, reorganizational change, anger, team building, creativity and humor. The Stress Doc is a columnist for the popular cyber-newsletter, Humor From The Edge. Mark is also the "Online Psychohumorist" for the major AOL mental health resource network, Online Psych . His motto: Have Stress? Will Travel! Reach "The Doc" at (202) 232-8662, email: Stress Doc@aol.com