When Conditions Affect Behaviour

It’s a beautiful day, and you’re out for a recreational drive. Your favourite music is cranked. The sun-drenched road winds up the hill. The conditions are clear and the view, magnificent. Exhilarated, you put your foot down to some bends at speed.  Then you notice a storm front. Pretty soon, wind starts buffeting the car. Rain comes, you close the sunroof. Visibility becomes difficult, you turn on the headlights. The weather closes in further; you crawl along for fear of driving off the road. Now it hails; you stop the car under an overpass to wait it out. 

I opened a speech in Perth last week with this metaphor, which demonstrates how external conditions affect behaviour. 

For both ourselves and our team members, it’s important to consider the impact conditions have on either promoting optimal behaviour or detracting from it. And, while we don’t have control over the weather, we do have a large amount of control over creating the conditions that are conducive to our thriving.

For example, when my performance is not in optimal range, I’ve identified three things I can do to shift me out of this state: 1) reading—preferably something heavy and mind-bending, 2) writing, and then 3) meeting with people. These three actions change the conditions. They stimulate my brain and boost my energy, resulting in heightened performance. The inner storm replaced by sunshine. 

I have found in my work with myself and the leadership development of others, focusing on that which we have control over is much more effective (and easier) than beating ourselves up and/or simply hoping for more motivation.

Ray

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*Photo by Genaro Servín

*Edited by Michelle Sexton