Panic, disorientation & data

Sheer panic struck him. He froze in place, and fear overtook his thoughts. All the "What if's" entered his mind, and he was on the verge of a physical melt down. What he knew was that he was 5, at the zoo, and he was with his family, but he was not any more. He knew he wandered a bit, but it didn't seem far enough to be completely lost. But he was. One single question entered and wouldn't leave his mind - "What if I'm stuck here?"

Like it or not, we all face this similar fear...more often than we realize, or are willing to admit. In big ways or little, you might be facing this now. Your team may be facing this fear now...or they may be sensing this fear in you.

This fear...this panic...will control you if you let it.

It will tell you that the disorientation, confusion and ambiguity in your life, your career, your situation is a permanent thing. It will tell you that there's no escape.

We all need a guide book with the words written on the outside - "Don't Panic"...and a towel - the most massively useful thing a traveler can have (reference to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams).

The truth is that this panic, this fear is lying to you....and there's a simple way to attend to it.

My son, the five year old referenced above, was disoriented, but not lost. Had he reflected on the situation, he would recognize that he had taken no more than 100 steps. He was no more than 20 yards from where he knew he saw his family last. He could have easily back-tracked and got to the door that he had exited...or taken 20 more steps and walk through another door that led him to the same place. He could have used the information that he had in front of him to find a way back to peace and fun.

When I turned the corner and saw him standing in the middle of the walkway, I saw the panic in his eyes. As both his father, and a caring human being, I wanted nothing more than to guide him to security. I have an opportunity and an obligation to help him write his guidebook. I have an opportunity and obligation to help him understand how to use data around him as his towel - because recognizing how to discern the signal through noise will provide the tools to not panic. It provides the opportunity to thrive, even in ambiguity.

The most fulfilling thing about being both a data geek and a coach of people is that I have the opportunity to help train and provide the "towels" to others - both clients and customers. To see a face transition from panic and disorientation to peace and confidence is truly a gift.