What's Your Sign?

Don't worry, this page hasn't turned into an online dating site, I'm not talking about your ZODIAC sign, I'm actually talking about your BEHAVIOR. If you stopped and took a moment to scribble on a sign or a bumper sticker WHAT you were intending with your behavior, what would it say?

Make no mistake, behavior is like a huge, flashing neon sign to others. They see that non-verbal sign and make assumptions and judgements based on what they see. People react MORE to your behavior than your words. IF your words and behavior don't match up, then people have a harder time interacting with you in a positive way.

Guess what? BEHAVIOR is an OFFER in the improv of life.

It would be simpler if people were honest and upfront about their BEHAVIOR but most aren't because they aren't even AWARE of their behavior and how it impacts their world.

I was driving down the Maple Valley highway behind a guy in a dark blue Toyota Tacoma with a very simple, plain bumper sticker that read, "I tend to go the speed limit".

Extremely curious, I followed him for awhile to see if his behavior matched his "sign". I found out this guy was true to his word. He stuck to that speed limit, or a couple miles under. He stayed in the right lane and many people passed him on the left. This guy's bumper sticker - his sign- was very clear. And helpful. He spelled it out for other drivers before we had to figure it out by observing his behavior.

If ONLY everyone in life would be so transparent about their behavior.

Think about it . . . If you were on the road with "I tend to get distracted while I drive and float between the lanes", you'd been on guard, right? If you were passing "I tend to pick my nose when I drive" you could avoid looking over and seeing that gross-ness.

Taking that to the world, wouldn't you immediately know how to deal with the co-worker with the sign around their neck that read, "I tend to over-promise and under-deliver"?

Of course you would.  You'd probably steer clear of the new guy with the sign reading, "I tend to steal everyone's ideas and pass them off as my own".

Sigh. It would be grand if we could so quickly understand what was going on, what was being offered. 

But, most people aren't as self-aware as the guy in the Toyota Tacoma. The thing to remember is, that while you have to OBSERVE and LISTEN to fully understand what another person is offering with their behavior you have the CHOICE to be crystal-clear in YOUR behavior.

Just like someone with a clear sign on their car, or around their neck. If your BEHAVIOR matches your words. If your ACTIONS match your intent, people have an easier time understanding what is going on and how to best respond to what you are putting out there - to what you are OFFERING them in this big, ol' IMPROV of life.

By the way, what would YOUR sign -or bumper sticker say? 

Mine would say this:

NOTE: There are lots of great very physical improv games that are great at helping align idea/thoughts and behavior.