Learn first to fall

Spending the holiday season in the mountains of southern Alberta. We took a refresher course in Nordic/x-country skiing because we haven’t enjoyed the sport for years.

 

Learning to fall

The first thing our instructor showed us was how to fall.  It makes sense if you think about it almost everyone who skis falls.

Is the same thing true about learning new things, innovating or starting a business?

Our instructor demonstrated us the finesse of falling – how not to get the poles in the way, how to spot a soft place to land, and how to roll over onto the back waving skis overhead, grab the tips and roll back to the righted position. Once we aced the falling technique we proceeded to practice stride, pole placement and stopping on a downhill.

What if  learning to fall or fail was the first lesson taught in any subject?

What if instructors and other leaders proceeded in the same way – pointing ways to handle a downturn, a failure, a mistake before they happen.  Wouldn’t it be interesting if staff or students were ready for handling a fall before attempting success?

Where’s the focus of attention?

As we skied that afternoon I noticed I didn’t much look away from the tips of my skis, unaccustomed to the feel of sliding on snow.  I wasn’t yet comfortable to look at the surrounding mountains and move in long steady glides with poles planted at just the right spot at just the right time. My concentration was on keeping upright even though the first thing I learned was how to handle a fall.

A lesson here? Learning to fall first enables confidence for using new ideas, making new decisions and taking new actions to risk and experience success.

 

Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanzaa, and Happy Festivus!

Thank you for reading my blog and enriching my life online.

Wishing you and your family Peace, Love & Joy

Marci Segal, MS

Freeing Leaders’ thinking so they can create new futures.