Dynamic Inactivity – Think Before You Act!
I love reading mystery books. One of my favorite new authors is G.M. Malliet and it was while reading one of her Max Tudor mysteries that I came across the term dynamic inactivity. Father Max retired MI5 agent turned Anglican minister used the term to describe his state of mind while sifting through the clues in a murder that he was investigating.
Of course the words dynamic inactivity resonated with me as it seems to be a perfect description of what introverts do on a regular basis. We pause and we think. Unfortunately, despite the fact that we are dynamically engaged in what we are thinking about our pauses are usually misconstrued as inactivity.
But what exactly is dynamic inactivity and where did this term originate? In 1972 psychologist and NYPD detective Harvey Schlossberg began using what was later to become known as dynamic inactivity to describe a more peaceful approach to resolving hostage situations. Up until that time hostage situations were hostile, chaotic and unpredictable, more often than not resulting in people being injured or killed.
Harvey Schlossberg recognized the need for an approach that was based more on psychology than brute force and found that he was able to engage the suspect or suspects by actively listening to their concerns and engaging them in the hostage process. Now-a-days hostage negotiators are expected to have the following skills: patience, active listening, respect for others, calmness, self-awareness and adaptability.
So apart from this interesting bit of history what can introverts’ learn from all of this?
It validates something that we naturally do. Think before we act! Giving us another way to explain our behavior if questioned by a colleague who doesn’t understand how the introvert’s mind works.
Another reason to embrace dynamic inactivity is that it can help us to prevent burnout.
In a blog post leadership coach Daniela Bryan writes that “Decision making drains our energy and if we don’t protect ourselves we may end up with decision fatigue.” These days many of us are struggling to manage our energy and Bryan recommends that her readers “think before they act”.
If you’d like to read more on the subject of personal energy I devot an entire chapter to energy management in my book The Dynamic Introvert: Leading Quietly with Passion and Purpose including a section on how to avoid burnout.
Cheers!
The Dynamic Introvert
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