Impromptu, Unscripted, Ad-lib, Improvised Leadership Superpowers

Yesterday, I ran a whole-day workshop for a client I’ve worked with for 14 years. The trouble is, I had a massive headache (something I ate, I suspect nuts ……) 

What transpired, though, makes me laugh. 

I am so organised nowadays. I have a list that I use so that I don’t forget anything. It's a pity one of the items isn’t a brain! Here’s what yesterday's absence of a brain achieved.

I used the Mac Mini on my desk to put the workshop presentation together and to print out some handouts. I then left the handouts for an activity on the printer. But more importantly, I didn’t load my PowerPoint onto the travel-ready MacBook before I left home—no big deal. Everything is in the cloud—except yesterday, it wasn’t. Five minutes before the 8.00 am start, I have no presentation as the 24 of them walk into the room.

But here’s what happened. I pulled up a similar presentation from February, took a few deep breaths, and delivered one of the best workshops I have ever given. We learned and laughed together, and I enjoyed the day immensely. 

What did I learn about myself? It’s about time I realised that one of my superpowers is being able to speak and engage on the spot. Tada! My tendency to overprepare does not always work. 

What got me through the day was knowing the direction we needed to take, my decades of experience and expertise in running an engaging workshop and being acutely attuned to the conversations within the room. Leadership is just like this. However, new leaders don’t have decades of experience behind them, so they need the right kind of support in the meantime.

Over the years, the following offers have provided this kind of support to leaders so that they can handle whatever comes their way in the moment with confidence and ease.

I’d love an Impromptu, Unscripted, Ad-lib, Improvised conversation with you. You can access my diary using this link.