Pivot

The other day I came across a great word that, to me, perfectly captures what an effective communicator must be able and, most importantly, willing to do at any given moment: pivot. While "pivot" has several meanings, in the context of how I mean it speaks to one's ability to pivot or change direction at a moment's notice when the situation calls for it. For instance, these days business men and women have been forced to change how they interact with clients or customers in this time of the coronavirus. Ones who are able to do this are successful, thus allowing them to maintain some degree of solvency and loyalty from those who use their services. Those who cannot ultimately cease to exist.

Going back as far as the dinosaurs, one could say in the face of their ever-changing environment, they were unable to pivot. Consequently, we only see dinosaurs any more in the movies or in books. Being able to pivot as well as recognizing the need to do so are vital to survival. This is true for any of us who rely upon how consistently well we interact with others for our own well being. Every day, people wrestle with their own set of challenges. In order to communicate effectively with them, each of us must be flexible and not so-locked into our own way of doing things that we are unable to make necessary adjustments.

Successful communication requires strategic thinking. Those who communicate well operate from specific plans or a good sense of direction. At the same time, they recognize that in order to achieve their goals, they must not be so tied to their strategies that they cannot makes changes in them. Thus, the word "pivot" comes into play. Prior to the virus, businesses, for instance, generally operated in a particular way. With the virus now upon us, they have been required to pivot or alter their way of doing things. Each day now, each of us need to assess how well we are pivoting when it comes to connecting with others and facing our own personal challenges.