Rodeo Princess 101

This week I  got to spend time with a wonderful, new, and atypical client:  a 17 year old budding rodeo princess!  Tiaras and cowboy hats - classic Americana.

Through a somewhat long and convoluted process, the girl's mother had found me and asked me to help her daughter with confidence and interviewing skills. I didn't know what to expect and was thrilled to find out she was just adorable!  Just a very sweet, hardworking girl who has a dream to be a rodeo queen.

I learned a ton about the rodeo queen world through our chat.  Fierce competition.  Good scholarships.  Lots of driving horses and trailers to competitions, hairspray, lipstick, colored trousers/boot combos... and studying! Who knew rodeo queens had to keep up on current events?!  At each competition, these girls not only have to perform on their horse, they have to spontaneously answer questions about world events in a very intensive setting.  Sort of like a beauty contest, riding competition and high school debate tournament rolled into one!

A few recommendations for her that I think we can all use in tense or high pressure situations at work and in life:

1 - Go in thinking of three adjectives that are flashing like neon signs above your head -- breathe and visualize them so that it radiates to the judges.  She chose 'APPROACHABLE'  'KNOWLEDGEABLE' and 'GRACIOUS' -- great!  If you act 'as if' - you become that person and show it to others.

2 - In any impromptu setting, it's just fine to take your time and collect your thoughts.  Whether you're being asked about the oil spill crisis or in a job interview, simply restate the question, pause for a moment, and when you're ready begin the answer.  Try to think of three points to make about the subject:  easy constructs are 'past-present-future' or 'personal-local-global' for example.

3 - Adjust your energy level for the audience and factor in your own personality and comfort level.  If it's an auditorium of 200 you need to project yourself at a '10.'  If it's a panel interview of six people, project yourself at about a 5-6.... more if you've got a table between you or if you're standing at a lectern, less if you're in a more intimate, conversational setting.  If you're in a 1:1 conversation, pare it down to match the person's energy level.  Forget mirroring body language - mirror energy level.

If you have a relatively low energy level yourself, you need to accommodate and go higher than you feel comfortable.  Your '10' probably registers at about an '8' to others - so you have to feel like you're over the top to be pitched properly.  Conversely, if you've been told you're higher energy, you need to be careful to tone it down in 1:1 settings, especially.

Our rodeo princess took away a lot of suggestions and practices, and I'm eager to hear how she does in her upcoming competition at the end of the month!

Best,
Coni