When you are in an uncertain situation do you have the feeling as if you are “standing in the fire”?

Many of my seasoned clients who are highly valued for their leadership and their expertise at times still experience “stage fright” when in front of a group of people. They strive to become more spontaneous and at ease in these situations. This uncomfortable feeling is like “standing in the fire.”

I’ve perpetually put myself into situations that inform me – and therefore I inform my clients how to find comfort and ease while being “on stage” and feeling the heat.

While I was training in Improvisation in grad school, our weekly studies culminated in Friday night shows. These performances were standing room only and heaps of fun. We trained diligently for how to be present in the moment no matter what situation was thrown at us.

I put my hand up to get out there on stage as much as I could because there was so much to learn about me in challenging situations.

Improvisation is thought to be one of the most frightening gigs around and yet, it is exhilarating once mastered. The principles of Say “YES”…and, as well as to prepare to be unprepared were our pillars.

The most petrifying of the games is Musical Improvisation. Most players would not even attempt it for its terror. I’d put my hand up – because I needed to stand in the fire to learn.

It works like this:

Partners take the floor. The audience yells out a “Where”. The piano player plays a chord which is the signal that right there, right then, at that very moment you were to sing a song by composing the tune and lyrics of your own creation.  In it you and your partner must establish where we are, who we are, and what we are doing.

The melody and words were on you. The piano only follows. This one night, it’s Joey and me. The audience shout-out puts us on a spaceship. I start singing the verse. Joey takes the next verse. Mother and son heading toward the Moon. We keep going. It was exhilarating. The crowd was on their feet.

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What can you do when you are standing in the fire? I mean this game, in the scheme of things, was fairly low stakes. What you do – there is so much more at risk.

Fortunately for us, we were coached in the principles of musical improvisation and were given a structure – the AABA. It’s a songwriting standard. The Beatles used it. Bob Dylan used it. Somewhere Over the Rainbow uses it.

Within this structure, you have a framework to hold onto. It’s easy to use and to remember. It carried us. We made it work – even in a pressure situation such as this.

Best of all, the audience loved it. It was loads of fun. What could be better than that?

Find the structure that works for you so you are prepared to be unprepared. Use it to your benefit and to create greater clarity. Your audience will feel appreciation. And you, no matter what happens, have something to hold onto even when feeling the fire.

In Foundations for Leadership Communication, you receive the models, frameworks and structures to create a greater sense of clarity, confidence and ease.

Click here to learn more.