We’ve all had a moment in our lives where we’ve reacted to a stressful situation on impulse– kind of like when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock in front of everyone at the 2022 Oscars (or maybe not to that extent). 

In a recent INC article, BigSpeak EVP Ken Sterling explains how to avoid acting on that fight-or-flight instinct so you can save yourself from potentially losing a job, client, or friend– or having to apologize in the press to the entire nation. 

Next time you’re feeling triggered, Ken proposes using JP Pawliw-Fry’s S.O.S. method, which stands for Stop, Oxygenate, and Seek Information. 

Stop 

“In my class with Pawliw-Fry, I learned people make two choices in pressure situations. We either avoid or make a mess” says Ken. Before sending that angry email, stop– save it to the drafts instead.

Oxygenate

Take a walk, get some fresh air, take some deep breaths. If you have the time, wait 18 minutes– this allows cortisol levels time to decrease.

Seek Information

After those 18 minutes, or once you’ve in a calmer place, try to gain some clarity about the situation. Sometimes we forget to stop and ask if someone really intended to threaten or aggravate us. Either way, “once time has passed, we’re able to use our entire brain to analyze a situation” Ken says. After that, we’re able to make better decisions. 

To read the full article and get an in-depth understanding of the S.O.S method, click here. 

Want your team to have the skills necessary to perform better under pressure? Consider booking JP Pawliw-Fry to speak at your upcoming meeting or conference. Please email info@bigspeak.com to inquire.