The Seed Sower Coach

Learning New Tricks

“We’re doing twice the work we used to do and getting paid the same.”

“This new machine’s not as good as what we had before.”

Are these common refrains from your work environment? Although we’re all no doubt busy, I tend to find that the underlying issues have more to do with technological frustration and change more than most other factors.

Consider the first statement, which essentially addresses the “do more with less” argument. It is entirely true that nearly all of us are and are required to be more productive than we were 20 or even 10 years ago. Yet, look at the tools that are now at our disposal. Computer speeds are faster than ever. A single cell phone has more capability than the early computers that helped us land on the moon. Groceries and other goods are delivered to our doorsteps often within a day or even hours of ordering. Scientists developed an immunization for a threatening and sometimes deadly virus in less than a year, far exceeding our expected standards.

So yes, most of us are doing more than we used to do, yet with the aid of technology. If we are still where we were in 2001, we have simply not kept up.

Still, learning how to Zoom, text, or even email can be uncomfortable propositions for many. The reward for first tackling the challenge and then succeeding at it can be immensely rewarding.

In my work in college football, basketball, baseball, and softball for ESPN I provide statistical data and observations to the “on air” broadcasters during the course of a telecast. Basically the job description summary is to share information during an event that will enrich the production and allow the announcers to come across as even more informed and up to date than they already are.

Although sports has slowly made a return during Covid, the broadcasts are different. For one, there may or may not be fans in attendance. Further, the on air talent may not even be present, announcing from a room or basement in their home or some other venue. The same goes for me: out of the events I have been assigned and worked thus far in 2021 all have been from my home office in Florida.

I recall my very first remote production a few months back. Admittedly not as technically proficient as I would like to be, I was overwhelmed at how I was going to adapt, produce quality information, and communicate it effectively. From that experience, I developed a step-by-step formula that not only worked for me, but that I believe can apply to many of the challenges any of us face to make them seem not so intimidating. If I may share:

1. First of all be grateful that the powers that be have demonstrated the confidence in your abilities to entrust you with the responsibility. They may very well see or know some things that are not so readily apparent to you.

2. The long-time question and adage of “how do you eat an elephant?, “one bite at a time,” is very helpful. Break the project down into smaller increments.

3. Seek advice next from those who may have some experience with the same or a similar challenge.

4. Begin tackling the undertaking from the perspective of what you do know. For me that translates to studying game notes and statistics from a variety of websites and transferring that information into the format and tools with which I have most familiarity.

5. Next, tackle the technology options that are most comfortable. For me that is Zoom. In my instance it also meant acquiring two laptops to begin with—one for the live game broadcast and another in which to communicate notes specifically to on air talent.

6. A third laptop was then to be added to the equation in order to receive “live” or current statistical information.

7. Assure that internet connectivity is strong and that there is reliable back up, such as a cell phone “hot spot” in order to remedy a communications void.

8. Speaking of the cell phone, it plays a role in continuing to serve as a communication device, however, through an app that allows the ability to talk to the announcers and production truck, much like a headset at an on site event.

9. Finally take a deep breath, say a prayer, have a good show, and feel gratified that you did it.

Resourcefulness feels good. These sophisticated times of ours also provide a reminder that none of us are ever too old to learn new things. It is good for me to get a taste of obstacles similar to those I task to my coaching clients.

What is the new challenge that you’re going to take on?

The Seed Sower

Quiet, Please!

December 8, 2022

It's Not What You Are

Power can intoxicate. Our natural tendency is to crave it. Those with the most wealth, best possessions, greatest attractiveness, loudest voice have it. The others of us are left to clamor first for that proverbial seat at the table and then merely an opportunity to be heard.

I recall earning that seat at the table. Initially it was pretty cool to be a part of those meetings with the “so called brokers, movers, and shakers.” After attending for a while, though, they seemed to get stale. The same topics were rehashed, reevaluated. Many seemed to have their own “agenda.” Gatherings that were scheduled for 60 minutes often meandered off topic and down the proverbial rabbit hole requiring commitments of first 90 and then 100 or more minutes. People talked over one another. Often, at the eventual delayed conclusion, few could point to what exactly had been accomplished.

In the midst of those maddening moments, there would often be one or two attendees who would say little, if anything, during certainly the early part of the meeting and sometimes well into it. Maybe, at about minute 55 of the hour-long assembly, one of the silent clan might clear their throat, ask to speak briefly, proceed to eloquently summarize what they had heard, and offer up an idea from what had been verbalized. Often I would watch a perceptible power shift take place to where the eyes and attention of those in the room would turn to the quiet member, a unifying voice with the ability to homogenize what had been shared without alienating others.

In the US we seem to struggle with silence and contemplation in a professional setting. I heard it shared recently that the average pause time in conversation in most of the US is two seconds between one person speaking and the other responding. In the more quickly paced Northeast the gap is half that. In some of the more demonstrative European cultures the pause time is -.5 seconds. In other words, people talk over one another.

Contrast those numbers to several Asian culture discussions, where silence is often tolerated for an average of eight seconds. That sounds like an eternity of time to process!

Many of us think back to formative times in our lives, times we feel there’s “not a lot happening,” but in reality, there’s a “ton going on.” The first semester of my freshman year in college was spent “figuring out” my space. Attending a fairly large school with many freedoms and choices proved intimidating. By nature, quite shy and tending towards introversion in unfamiliar surroundings much of my time I spent in solitude. Often alone on campus for those four months, what I did not realize was the early development of key adult observational abilities. I overheard many conversations. Imaginative liberty was honed. Confidence in independent thoughts and impressions emerged.

In hindsight that brief period of loneliness was necessary, providing the allowance of an attitude towards reserved contemplation at later “tables.”

Several years back I participated in a Men’s Bible Study. Eight of us were situated around a table. One of the participants contributed likely 50% of the verbiage shared, much of it off topic and related to frustrations with one of his kids. Six others of us were responsible for nearly the remaining other half of chatter.

There was one fellow, however, who typically had no more than one or two observations during the entire hour. What he shared, though, was impactful, powerful, and timely. True nuggets of wisdom. I later learned that he was a retired pastor and former musical recording artist, making him even more fascinating and intriguing. Eyes and ears magnetically fixated on him.

Pat was one of my co-workers with insightful observations. She had impeccable timing with knowing when and how to deliver what she had to say and how she said it. “The average attention span for meetings is 17 minutes,” she once commented. “Attendees should feel empowered to stand up, stretch, and change positions for 30 seconds before retaking their seats.” Pat had a quiet power. To this day, not a meeting do I attend where at least the idea of a stretch fails to come up every 1000 seconds or so.

As we head into the final run of 2022 and turn the page on a new year, my challenge and encouragement is to consciously tune in to hearing others. In this age where “influencing” is important an objective is to be more impactful through observation. Many of us have two ears, two eyes, and one mouth. All are God-given communication tools to be used to their fullest extent.

On that note, a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to all and best wishes for peace and prosperity into the New Year.

The Seed Sower

Kirk McCarley, The Seed Sower Coach

Planting seeds of confidence . . .

Quiet, Please!

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It's Not What You Are

Kirk McCarley, The Seed Sower Coach

314-677-8779