Stop Waiting for a New Normal - Use Your Words to Navigate a New Reality

Have you noticed there is an increasing tempo in the wave of a new style of futurist?

Those that have had no success in predicting what today holds for them, let alone what an entire future holds for all of us wrapped in two seemingly innocent words – a new normal.

And yet with the collision of both digital and social media their noise is reaching an almost deafening level and very few of them should actually be listened to.

Because the reality is that what we are dealing with at the moment is, well, a new reality. Which is bespoke.

It is individual to every one of us, even those of us in the same household, same relationships, same businesses and organisations.

And our reality is based on our perception; and here is the single most powerful and beautiful element of that. 

We have no ‘control’ over what a new normal, whatever that means and whenever it arrives, but we do have complete control in our own reality whilst we ‘wait’ for the ‘new normal’ to arrive - through the words that we use. 

The language that runs on loops inside our own minds. The reason I am so damn passionate about people investing in their ability to speak – because you learn the power of language and the techniques you can use to create, adjust, and challenge reality in ways which are useful right now.

As we twist ourselves into a new rhythm, the simplest of exercises to shift your state and view of the world is to invoke the power of modal operators.

The Modal Operators

We are naturally people of necessity or people of possibility – neither is good nor bad, both have light and shadow, and all are accentuated in times of significant change.

How to know which one you are naturally

How do you wake up in the mornings, naturally? And for the parents in this room it may be useful to think back to before children, for most adults, think back before you followed the wise words of monks and created a 5am routine. 

Do you wake up with your to do list already pumping through your mind before your feet even hit the floor? Then you are a necessity thinker.

Or do you wake up slowly, listening to the day wake up with you, your mind exploring what could happen today, wondering who you will meet, what you will do, the sorts of adventures that will roll out? Then you are a possibility thinker.

Necessity People have their own words

Their thoughts and their words are littered with should, must, have, need – both on their internal loop and their conversations in the real world.

The operators of necessity narrow our focus and limit the options.

So do Possibility People

Conversations with these people are rich with maybe, may I, can I, what if we, how could we think about.

We use operators of possibility to lift our thinking, create and explore alternatives, to brainstorm.

And the modal operators - the words – of necessity and possibility – are the single fastest way to change our reality.

Overwhelmed and tired and full of what you should do, to do lists that make you cry, and a hyper sense of responsibility during ‘this crisis’? Notice your words and if everything is firmly in the language of necessity, change it to the words of possibility to, literally, pull you up.

Comparatively calm, even optimistic, loving the opportunity that comes with the entire world slowing down, but realising you are really getting nothing done even if you feel great and you probably need to do SOMETHING at the moment? Notice your words and if everything is firmly in the language of possibility, change it to the words of necessity to narrow your focus.

This is why language matters

When you build the muscle of language, shift beyond simply being able to speak to understanding the craft behind great speaking, study what the orators now and in history have been able to do to galvanise movements, you inherently build your ability to navigate a rapidly changing landscape.

Your language and the use of it strengthens, and with a wider vocabulary and understanding of how our words work together, you have more than simply the ability to speak.

You have the ability to navigate an ever changing new reality.

And there is not a single damn thing in the world I can think of that is more powerful than that.

Jacqueline

Jacqueline Nagle is a business-leader, presenter and trainer, well known for her straight talk and spirited presentations.  Her own diverse career has been witness to (personally) securing in excess of $20,000,000 in sales, growing a consulting business from $4.2-$22.5M in 15 months, building a regional start up from $0-high-6-figure fee revenue in 18 months, driving significant change as CEO of a Traffic Control Company, successfully developing, negotiating and implementing more than 20 Enterprise Bargaining Agreements, collectively generating in excess of $3M in publicity, speaking across more than 150 events, creating and/or MC’ing in excess of 50 events, and delivering in excess of 180 workshops across 15 topics. 

Turning her attention more specifically to the craft of speaking in early 2017, Jacqueline has worked with 100's of subject matter experts and speakers across Australia and the USA and delivered now proven success in speaking, and in the launch and consolidation of businesses dependant on speaking driven strategies as their core channel to market. Her training has been delivered to some of Australia's largest corporations, including Tattersalls, she has been appointed to the Australian Institute of Sport's (Olympic) Gold Medal Alumni learning and development program, and awarded the global designation of Certified Speaking Professional.