By Janie Van Hool, leadership and communication expert
The question stings – I am pitching for some exciting work with a great new client. I’ve done some prep and I know the business. Normally, I welcome challenge, but I did not expect this question and it has taken me aback. I take a breath, ready to respond with evidence and opinion and a clearly articulated point of view. And then… nothing. The windows of my mind steam up. I have been hijacked by a muffled feeling. I can’t think of a smart response. It feels like I’ve forgotten everything I know. I feel tearful, flustered and frustrated. I just want it to be over.
Brain fog can affect all of us – the tired and under pressure, the sleep-deprived, those with chronic health conditions and those going through the menopause. It doesn’t help that brain fog seems to rear its head when we most need to be at our best – high pressured performance situations when we need to be articulate in expressing our ideas, respond confidently… and think clearly.
Oh, and if you’re wondering what happened to my pitch? You’ll be pleased to know I took my own medicine. I said ‘Ha! Just when I need it, my mind’s gone blank!’ and the panel laughed, sympathetically. I had notes and took a moment to refer to them; I gave myself an encouraging ‘You can answer this!’; I took a pause and a breath. Then, I looked the challenger straight in the eye and responded – it wasn’t perfect, but it was the best I could do in the circumstances. ‘Good answer.’ she said. ‘We’re looking forward to working with you on this.’.
Janie Van Hool is a prominent communication expert specialising in leadership development programmes and executive coaching. Janie teaches the art of communication, presence and impact to professionals in a range of organisations, from the construction industry to investment banking. As Founder and Director of VoicePresence, Janie has worked as a workshop facilitator and 1:1 coach for more than 20 years, enhancing the communication skills of executives and creating listening company cultures. Janie is the acclaimed author of The Listening Shift: Transform your organization by listening to your people and helping your people listen to you (Practical Inspiration, 2021). The book explores the power of listening, which often flies under the radar when it comes to communication in business. It is the ultimate guide to learning how to cut through the noise and listen expertly. The Listening Shift draws on the learning and experiences she has gained as a RADA-trained classical actress, a voice teacher (she has an MA in Voice Studies), from her research into Performance Psychology at Edinburgh University, and from her years volunteering as a listener for Samaritans in the UK.