Where are your brakes?

Originally published on LinkedIn.

In cycling effective brakes are critical to going fast downhill yet staying in control (well plus confidence - more on that in a bit). "Oliver when you go downhill where are your brakes?" is one of the most amazing questions my counsellor has ever asked me. Of course she wasn't asking about the brakes on my bike - but what are the controls I put in place and the things I can turn to when I recognise things aren't going well.

"Oliver when you go downhill where are your brakes?"

In a somewhat circular and ironic fashion one of my responses was - my bike! As one of many who get the value of cycling and exercise as a way of managing mental health. Cycling for me isn't just about the physiological benefit of exercise to my muscles and my brain chemistry - but:

  • Allows me to explore and get outside
  • Re-connect with nature
  • Connect and compete with friends
  • Forces me to be present and mindful particularly when looking for the right line and overcoming obstacles on the MTB

The power of mindset

Talking of overcoming obstacles - what's the best way of doing that? Confidence.

Whilst I'm not saying having experience, skill, the right bike and kit doesn't help - recently getting through winter mud has been far easier and more fun with mud tyres.

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But what is most critical? Mindset. Once I have developed the basic skills - if I go into a difficult section believing I can cycle through the massive section of mud, bump down a section of steps or scramble up a technical, rocky climb then most of the time it turns out I can. When I have self doubt or don't fully commit that's when I end up muddy and sometimes bruised. Of course this is a balance as sometimes coming off the rails can be due to overconfidence - not using the brakes or other controls I have effectively to stay on course. This of course applies to obstacles in most other parts of my life - I need to see them as challenges that can be overcome with the right approach and a confident mindset. That way I can turn those challenges into opportunities.

Bringing all that together check this video out from the amazingly talented Danny MacAskill:

Do check out his other videos too - particularly the out takes where he shows how much "failure" and experimentation goes into these videos.

Technology Controls

Of course these questions aren't just pertinent for people - they also equally apply to organisations. In the world after midnight innovation, markets, regulations and organisational change are moving so fast that its hard to keep up. For any organisation moving safely at speed (particularly during technologically driven change) with agility requires controls. Smaller organisation have lower interpersonal connectivity and complexity so start-ups can rely more on good people and relationships. As organisations grow they need more controls - effective ways of managing risk - be that technology and cyber related, financial, operational. Some of the most effective controls can be those driven by technology - using data and automation to ensure the right things are happening (or not happening). For example - checks and balances that ensure that someone in a front office trading role does not also have the ability to confirm their trades on the back office systems (something Barings Bank learnt the hard way). Whilst you can do that manually - you can also run an algorithm over your identity and access management information and systems access records and logs as additional controls that policies have not been circumvented.

Slow down!

Bringing it back to exercise again for a moment: In the working week I don’t always have time to get out on the bike so I go out for a quick run. Quick being the operative word – often too quick! My running fitness isn’t quite the same as my cycling fitness and so I get injured quite regularly (bilsters, sore joints etc). Recently my wife bought me an exercise smart watch - in fact I used it on the day I wrote part of this article. Amusingly when I glanced at it halfway around my run it said:

“Slow Down!”

I hadn’t realised that the default run setting is gentle jog – and it was looking at my GPS and heart rate (I assume) and advising me I was over exerting! Another example of the technology control – but in this case relating to health / exercise risks! When you think about it data and technology controls can be applied in so many places.

Where are YOUR controls?

So I ask you the same question - in these turbulent, challenging and uncertain times - where are YOUR brakes? Do you understand what keeps you and your organisation in control? Don't be afraid to get help answering these questions about you or your organisation - talk about your challenges and get fresh perspectives. For me personally it's been critical - and I recognise that getting through personally challenging times is far easier with a blend of tools including exercise, counselling and opening up and talking to friends .

Getting started is often the hardest part - but don't put it off - have the difficult conversations. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised from being truly honest, authentic & showing you are only human.

Originally published on LinkedIn.