Cautious or bold? We need both.

Everything has to be just right, with every detail seen to by a team of dedicated pros — and someone has to take the risk to actually ride the rocket. (NASA photo)

As a musician, I’ve learned to buff and polish a piece to a high level of shine. However, I also really enjoy being spontaneous. Whether that’s taking a request in a live performance or improvising with other musicians, there’s something to be said for the high wire act of trying something new and creative. 

I miscalculated gravely in a recent performance. I was singing a new composition that I had never performed before. In fact, it was so new that I completely forgot how it went in the middle of performing it. Luckily, the crowd was forgiving. 

You might think that this experience would teach me a lesson and I will never make that mistake again. You might even think that the discomfort would put me off of performing completely. However, that’s not how my risk-o-meter works. If I consider the times that living on the edge has paid off for me, it’s not unreasonable to amortize the cost of this less successful attempt over all the others and conclude that I’ve done all right. 

Still, given that my default setting is, “leap and the net will appear,” it is always good for me to nudge toward thorough preparation. What kinds of opportunities have I lost because I’ve taken on too many things to give adequate attention to? I’ll never know for sure. 

Many people I know are on the other end of the spectrum. Leaps are rarely made; the default position is to stick with what’s known and tested. Though these folks are less likely than I am to find themselves onstage somewhere forgetting their lines, they are also less likely to be able to take advantage of new opportunities. There’s a cost for them, too.

As an educator and coach, I find myself in the fascinating position of nudging the “look before you leap” people toward trying new things while challenging the people like me to strengthen the foundation before launching into something new. Neither approach to life is wrong, and yet, if growth comes from discomfort, we will find that doing things that aren’t easy or natural is necessary sometimes. 

This dynamic plays out vividly in a discussion or meeting. Some people will think out loud, making assertions they haven’t tested yet and seeing which ones land. They benefit from having the floor and, at their best, can be a steady source of new and bold ideas. However, they can muddle the conversation or hog the airwaves.

On the other hand, other people will spend a meeting listening intently to what is being said, but may hesitate to contribute because they haven’t gathered all the necessary information yet. They may make connections that the louder people aren’t making, but they may miss the opportunity to make their voice heard. 

Both of these styles are valuable. In the spirit of challenging ourselves to grow, those who are on the less inhibited side might take an extra beat to see if anyone else wants to share before they plow ahead. They might even invite some of the quieter members of the group to speak by asking for their opinions and thoughts. Meanwhile, those who would be content to fade into the background for the entire meeting might look for a moment to speak up even when their idea isn’t perfectly refined or they don’t have a fully-formed plan.

To help facilitate the learning and progress of all of those they serve, teachers and coaches should feel free to, as Seth Godin puts it, “treat different people differently.” A simple suggestion like “Be sure to take your time on this assignment,” might not be enough to influence someone for whom good enough is good enough, whereas it might send a more fastidious person into several extra hours of work. Coaching works best when it is individualized and tailored to the exact needs of the person receiving it. 

It takes all kinds of people to make an interesting and diverse classroom, workplace, or society. We need everyone’s strengths and styles. The group, along with we ourselves as individuals, will function best when we have the self-awareness to know who what our tendencies are while respecting and making room for those of others, balancing our weaknesses with a confidence in our strengths.