Losing Flow...

from www.ebl.org/flow_original.gif

I'm auditing a sales course today and learning a lot.

Unfortunately, I'm not learning about sales.

Instead, I'm learning about flow... and how to lose it.

Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi identified 'Flow' as the happy place where challenge and skill reach an equilibrium. As your skills grow, the challenge should be increased.

When your skills are lower than the challenge, you get anxious and demotivated.

When your skills are higher than the challenge, you get bored and demotivated.

In the mid-range, time flies, you are energized, you learn, and you are 'happy'.

You can guess where I am right now (with most of the attendees) - below the line.

Why? The challenge is not meeting the skill of the group.

We have a lot of sharp folks in the room right now, and they're being asked to listen to a lecture.

Have you ever had to sit for three hours, listening to somewhat talk about things you already understand? I bet you have...

Please don't do it to others.

Engage the audience early. Challenge them to an appropriate degree. Have them do things!

Or they'll lose flow... and you'll lose them