I just got off another mastermind group meeting with Frank Somma. Frank is a business leader, writer, and motivational speaker. I’m really enjoying his message through this mastermind group.
If you are interested check it out here and contact Frank. I have also created my own mastermind leadership group for school leaders.
Learn more here.
In the recent session with Frank, we focused a lot on communication and the many different aspects of it. Frank spoke about holding your tongue for just a moment. Not responding so quickly, and thinking before you speak. He said the pause between thoughts and words define who we are. I thought that statement was profound and it got me thinking about my time as a college basketball official.
The veterans and top referees told us to physically hold the whistle. When you’re running up and down the court and the whistle is in your mouth, it’s very easy just to blow the whistle at the first sight of a foul or violation. As a rookie and young official, I did that many times (blow the whistle too quickly without seeing the whole play), but after I heard over and over again about holding the whistle, I began to practice that pause. That very important pause that Frank says defines us.
In a basketball game, when there is a slight bump or just a little foul, maybe the player keeps dribbling and goes and lays it in for an easy basket. If one were to blow the whistle instantly/too quickly, the play would never been able to continue. This is what the veteran officials call a game interruptor.
How does this translate to real life? How does this translate to work, jobs, in our relationships with family, and loved ones? Hitting the pause before you speak might help you from having an interruption, or even worse saying hurtful words that you didn’t really mean. Pause. Practice it, think about it, and work on really hearing the person you were talking to. Slow it down and hear what you are going to say. Then hit pause before you respond. After you do this a few times you will get into the habit and really become good at it.
It’s never been something that was easy for me, yet I am working on it. My speed and quickness is a blessing and a curse. It has helped in many ways, yet it bites me from time to time, and so that’s why I am working on this. The pause.
Add this and other important tools to your toolbox and keep rolling! #THEPAUSE. I thank Frank Somma for working with me on this point and all I learned from his leadership group.
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Quote: “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell
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