Attitude Checklists
Whatever the topic, whatever the situation, there will be moments of panic and crisis. It is important to have re-centering checklists in order to maintain focus.
The first checklist is internal: be confident, be calm, take one step at a time. Haste makes waste. Saying “I can’t” is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The second is a version of the scientific method: observe, ask, guess, test, tell, record iterate. Whatever the subject: am I being observant? analytical? methodical?
The third involves communication with others. One version would be: listen, empathize, encourage, thank. Another is to remember that how you say what you say can be more important than what you say. You can speak too loudly to be heard. Be self-aware and do the triple check: tone, look stance.