Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi knows what he is talking about. In his book Flow he describes reaching a state that allows you to match performance with expectations: flow. Well, this is the bottom line message I get. Of course, it is far more complex. Let’s leave out the technicalities and identify with the fact that we can achieve a state of flow in anything that we do.

Performance

Yes, we could refer to using a foreign language as giving a performance. Your clothes might not change, but your mind puts on a new costume. Your script might not be finished, but your thoughts race ahead. Your audience might clap or they might not. Stage fright frightens us, makes us sweat and lets us know that we are alive.

Once we deliver our performance our shoulders relax, our mouths become thirsty for the tiny drops of saliva that will wet our lips and we feel that we can breath again. Why are these performances such knobbly-knee situations at times?

Expectations

It’s fair to say that people have expectations. And these same expectations put great pressure on us. If we are already in doubt, insecure and nervous then this is not going to help us. It’s funny, I find a lot of my participants think more about what someone else might be thinking than sorting out their repertoire. Why do we think that someone thinks that we think … I won’t go on. I would rather invest my writing energy in transferring my idea of how flow can be achieved among those learning and acquiring a new language.

Go with the flow

It can be so simple: Relax, check your own capabilities, double-check what is expected of you and go with the flow. You need to presume that your performance will be appreciated. Give yourself a once-over. If you have a meeting about a topic that you are not familiar with, then prepare. You think this goes without saying? I’m afraid not. Sort out your ‘word safe’, make sure the key is nearby and be ready to react to unexpected situations if need be. Have useful phrases at hand that will give you thinking time. Go with the flow because you can. Really. Enjoy the experience, appreciate the chance and thank your audience for listening.

 

Jessica Betts goes with the flow. And she likes to flow in the other direction. There is no such thing as no flow. It is more the art of recognising when flow is flowing most. When not flowing, glowing or going places, Jessica is planning all three.