Random Wisdom (or DUH)

Do you have an important presentation coming up? A negotiation with your boss? A job interview? We all have things that make us nervous, because we’re not sure of our abilities, we feel a lack of control or we’re just scared of everything that can go wrong.

The antidote to fear is preparation. Thorough preparation gives you confidence and control in dealing with anything that might happen. One of the strongest ways to prepare is visualization. Rehearse the scary activity in your mind, using all your senses. See yourself entering the room, feel how you’re upright with a smile on your face, hear how you greet your boss in a confident tone of voice. Rehearse the crucial parts of your presentation, interview or whatever activity you have coming up. Make it vivid. Also make sure you rehearse different scenarios, especially those scenarios that challenge you the most.

What you’re going for is Déjà Vu. When you actually do the activity, you want it to feel like you’ve been there before. (Déjà vu is French for ‘already seen’) You’ve dealt with the challenging stuff while you were vividly preparing. You will feel more confident and more in control because things are easier the second time.

I use Déjà Vu myself when I need to teach a new group of students or do a presentation for a potential client. Actually, I let my gut tell me when I need to do this preparation. If I feel very nervous I’ll take that as a signal to use the technique. I’ve had a lot of practice with it and I’m now at the point where the activity itself really feels like a Déjà Vu. Surprises still happen, of course, but I’m so confident that I can deal with it in a way that is pleasant to me.

What will your next Déjà Vu be?