Last week, I had the privilege of presenting at the Wichita Professional Communicators luncheon.
I introduced the “pull, push, push” soccer drill from my fifth grade PE teacher. You may be thinking, “What does soccer have to do with crises?”
Honestly, a lot.
But the point of the demonstration was not to improve soccer skills. The point was to show that when you are focused on something else, even common questions are difficult to answer.
As my two volunteers pulled the soccer ball to them, pushed it to the other foot, and then pushed it away over and over again, I asked pretty routine questions.
What’s your work phone number?
What’s your work email?
What’s your boss’s phone number?
Where did you grow up?
The time between question and answer became longer because their brains were trying to shift between keeping the soccer ball in a tight triangle and answering my random questions.
Our brains weren’t built to multitask. Instead, like a TV, our brain switches between the channels (without the picture-in-picture option). Even a brain that switches quickly can lose seconds between task switches.
Why does this matter in crises?
Having your plan ready and rehearsed minimizes the need to try to remember all the information under pressure. Aside from making sure your plan is developed, documented, and rehearsed, my pro tip: have a laminated sheet of important phone numbers in your car, briefcase, wallet, and purse. That way, no matter where you are when a crisis hits, you have access to the people you need to mobilize.
