Striving to adapt...

One of the many lessons and probably first lesson I learned from my sport coaches was the importance of being able to 'adapt and improvise’. To have the ability to change course on the fly and still come out ahead. In today’s world I think this concept is critically important, not only to the athlete, but to anyone who wants to be at the top of any profession or maintain a job.

Here goes a blast from my past…

It was the day after a dual meet with College of DuPage, if we had won the meet we would have had a bye to the junior college national tournament. We didn’t and our season though not over, felt like it was. We were all pretty disappointed. We all knew it was a season that didn’t live up to expectations, but we still had some matches before our conference tournament where we would have a chance individually at some redemption. Our head coach; a man by the name of Gene Richards stood before us with a legal pad in his hands - giving each player a brutal evaluation in front of the entire team - something you're just not supposed to do in today's politically correct 'feelings first' world.

A couple of my team mates received a boatload of praise for their performance; others were told what they needed to do to improve; two were deeply criticized. Don't know what it was about Gene, but he could pretty much say whatever he wanted and you would listen. Maybe it was his advanced age, maybe he just knew what the hell he was talking about, being a former Australian and US amateur doubles champion didn’t hurt and after licking our wounds always listened.

Yet, nothing he said was ever sugar-coated or communicated in order to please. The good thing about Gene was that we ALWAYS knew where we stood. He was consistent.

After critiquing the first few players, Gene began evaluating our only All-American on our team - Jeff, who lost a close match to a former Marine - who also happened to be an All-American.

"You know Jeff," he said. "You're one of these guys who go out to compete with a plan. And then when the plan doesn't work, you fall to pieces. It's okay to have a plan - but when the plan doesn't fit - you've got to be able to change gears and do whatever you need to do to win."

When I heard this I was stunned - mostly because I, too, was one of those players who didn’t have a lot of experience but did put together a plan. And like Jeff, if the plan didn't work - I was s-o-l.

In tennis we are taught to practice various strokes and patterns of strokes over and over and over again. And we train in such a way so that "what we know" becomes second nature.

As a former champion Gene pulled me aside one day and told me that "You've got to know your game inside and out. That you have to know the shots you can make for that given day like the back of your hand. You've got to be able to do them in your sleep." What he was talking about is being "programmed" to react in a certain way to specific situations. And he's right.

On the other hand, what he told Jeff was equally right. You've got to be prepared and able to change gears, to adapt and improvise - and be able to do so right during the heat of battle.

This is something that may not come easily - but it is possible, regardless of your endeavor. It's all a matter of training, confidence and the willingness to flow into something else - on the fly.

On more than one occasion I’ve witnessed examples of how this philosophy of "having a plan but being flexible" is NOT simply a athletic strategy. It applies to everything. It even applies to a business meeting or seminar.

One of the things I have noted about many presenters is their reliance on "Power Point" when they talk.

Occasionally I will use one - albeit with blank slides or cartoons in between the actual content, - so that I am forced to communicate based on the audience feedback, not based on 'what does my next slide say.' But most of the time all I want is a microphone and that's plenty, in my book.

There are a few reasons why I don't like Power Point and they tie nicely into this concept of planning what you're going to say, but being willing to adapt and improvise. One of the biggest reasons I don't like to rely on Power Point is simple: What if suddenly, during the middle of your talk, the computer shuts down?

Well, if it does, can the speaker immediately adapt and improvise? Most of the time, when I have witnessed this happen - the speaker is totally thrown and then clueless about what comes next.

You feel bad for the speaker the same way you feel bad for an athlete who is stumped by an opponent who comes out to fight with techniques and strategies you have never seen before, haven't prepared for and cannot defend.

Like my coaches I believe the ultimate level of skill is being able to flow with whatever is happening, whether you prepared for it or not - yet still come out smelling like a rose.

I think only a handful of speakers or athletes can actually do this. But every person has it within himself to do so. If you study the top people in any profession, take note how relaxed and calm they are when they are performing or competing. This is critically important.

Then think back to the times in your life in which you are able to adapt with ease. I'm betting you've had the experience and the first thing you'll recall about it was that you were totally relaxed and having a good time. You weren't stressed out or worried about how you were going to do. You simply went with the flow.

Having a plan can help you relax. I know it helps me. But knowing I can adapt and improvise if the plan isn't working - that's a level of skill worth striving for.

Til next time….