BEHAVING DIFFERENTLY WHEN BEING WATCHED




Last week as part of a leadership development initiative in Yangon, Myanmar, we explored how one behaved when being observed (‘adaptive’) versus the way one behave in a ‘natural’ unobserved state.  Simply stated – HOW WE BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY WHEN SOMEONE IS WATCHING…

Today, the lesson came truly home…

I awoke late this morning. Having missed my morning class, I decided to ‘do’ my morning ‘quiet routine’ in the verandah next to the garden. I opened the door to see my houseguest already there sipping tea. She asked if I wanted to do ‘yoga’ there, I answered in the negative and walked towards the garden where I rolled out my mat and began my quiet time…..

Typically, this routine last for about seven minutes. But today, I went on for close to 20 minutes. Why? Because I was putting on a show to impress my houseguest.
I think this desire to impress surreptitiously kicked in the moment I saw her. I think somewhere inside a voice kicked in “Audience, Sanjay, an audience…someone to impress…show her how good/great/committed to ‘meditation’ you are…”

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So, once the extended session was over, I rolled up my mat and made my way to the verandah looking forward to “Oh, its so great to see your commitment” or some version of  “Wow, what discipline…” But to my utter disappointment, she was not there. My mood fell…..”what a wasted performance!!!!”

Quite pathetic isn’t it? But then, it did make for this blog right???


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