It could be right around the corner: an occasion that puts you in the spotlight. How will you handle it?
Career coaches say that before it happens, know that it probably will, sometime in the not-too-distant future. But if you always expect the unexpected, that act alone will increase your confidence and resilience.
When you are called upon, the worst thing you can do is to become too stunned to respond. At RHR International in Wood Dale, Ill., they recommend stilling that internal voice that says you can’t handle it. Be ready to “step up to the plate” with confidence.
It helps to anticipate a surprise spotlight. One manager quoted in The Wall Street Journal takes the time to consider that various things could occur. She comes up with a dozen or two fast ideas for the one she selects. The ideas are put on sticky notes, stuck on a wall, then repositioned in the order she would present them. It’s a starting point.
Unanticipated spotlights often occur during meetings. If it happens to you, career coaches say you should take deep breaths, compose your thoughts, restate the question, and use humor to defuse tension. Above all, avoid blurting out the first thing that comes to mind.
In spite of planning, some people just don’t do well in unexpected situations. Some coaches recommend acting lessons. But being on guard and prepared would probably work better.