Three Ways to be Ready for Your Next Surprise Opportunity

The other day I mentioned that I had a chance to speak with the referees who officiated the Chick-fil-A bowl. Touring the Georgia Dome with their families, the officials were in town the day before, getting ready for the game. What I didn’t say is that I wasn’t prepared to speak with them.

I was having a casual conversation with a friend when suddenly 30 people joined us in the small room we were talking in. I was asked to say a few words. Dozens of people were expecting me to deliver a thought or two. And I had approximately three seconds to prepare.

Have you ever had moments like that? A boss calls on you unexpectedly in a meeting. A client phones with a series of questions you weren’t ready to answer. The microphone gets handed to you in a presentation you weren’t supposed to be part of.

You’re on the spot.

It’s go time.

Now what?

Here are three things I did in that moment and three things I think you can do too:

1. I showed gratitude.

One of the best things you can do when given a new opportunity is show your appreciation for it. Often when we get stressed and nervous about something unexpected, we forget to say thank you. So the first thing I did was thank the referees for coming to Atlanta to share their expertise and for giving me a chance to speak to them for a few minutes.

2. I related to what they were passionate about

As I shared the other day, when I spoke to the referees, I told them my favorite story about referees. I told them the story about the homecoming night where none of the officials showed up. In addition to getting a laugh, it let them know that I cared about what they cared about. Don’t forget that just because it’s an unplanned moment doesn’t mean you should lose sight of what matters, like reaching your audience with language and stories they can relate to.

3. I kept it short.

When nerves get high and stress levels go up, it’s tempting to over talk. To ramble and tell a few stories too many and a few jokes too much. It’s natural. Panic multiplies our words and we tend to go too long. So with the referees I kept it short. They had an entire stadium to explore. I was a small speed bump on the tour. And they didn’t need me slowing them down. Neither does your boss or your conference call. Keep it short and answer questions if they have any.

It would be nice if life gave us weeks and months to prepare for our “on the spot” moments wouldn’t it? But it doesn’t. Surprises show up. Opportunities hide behind corners. And sometime, this year, someone is going to put you on the spot.

I think you’ll be ready. I think you’ll be excited. I think you’ll do great.

This post is categorized Lead