Moment of choice: Pause. Clarify. Decide. ~FranklinCovey

All leaders have probably been there at some point in time. That moment when you are overwhelmed with the weight of the world, the uncertainty of the future, feeling lost and not knowing which path to take next, etc. When you are faced with a moment of choice.

Richard Leider shares a skiing analogy in Repacking Your Bags that illustrates the importance of that moment of choice. Leider says we can learn from a well-prepared skier when hit with an avalanche of snow. Seasoned skiers know that you can’t out-ski an avalanche so you should stop and quickly remove your skis. If you are buried in snow with your skis still on, you’ll become anchored under the snow with minimal possibility of digging your way out.

When the snow stops moving, first, create an air space around your mouth by clearing away the snow and cupping your hands. Then spit! Why spit? So you know which way is up. You can depend on the law of gravity to tell you which way to start digging. It’s not unprecedented for skiers buried in an avalanche to become so disoriented that they actually dig themselves deeper in a fatal attempt to extricate themselves.

There are several points here. First, take off your skis—let go of the things that are weighing you down so you have a much better chance of digging yourself out. Second, a very simple step, spit. This can be the difference between being buried alive and digging in the right direction. Find out which way is up before you put all of your energy into searching for your escape route.

So what might the “spitting” metaphor look like? Maybe consulting others who’ve faced similar circumstances. Talking with others who are doing what you would like to be doing, whatever that is. Reading advice from experts. Finding time and space to clear your head. Asking yourself if you really know the facts, and if not, finding the true facts.

Our culture, influenced greatly by technology which provides us with instant gratification, has taught us to react; in fact, in many cases probably depends upon us to react. If we were to pause and metaphorically “spit,” we might make a decision that contradicts our initial reaction.

Many leaders get so caught up in the perceived need to act quickly (feeling the weight of an avalanche) that they don’t first “spit” to determine if they are moving in the right direction.

Are you buried in an avalanche? Or maybe you see the avalanche coming your way. Pause. Spit. Then start digging. Or, as FranklinCovey recommends: Pause. Clarify. Decide.