Think about the people in your life who you would consider spontaneous. They seem so alive, dont they? They are so positive and confident. With a little work, you can develop your natural spontaneity.

Spontaneity means acting in accordance with a natural feeling, impulse or tendency without any constant, effort or premeditation. For example, its coming to a fork in the road and quickly making an intelligent decision. Or its making an impromptu speech to a group of coworkers, explaining a problem or issue and quickly providing a viable solution that will save time or money. Its even walking through the front door of you home with flowers for your spouse.

While all these scenarios sound desirable to most of us, spontaneity has long been a neglected asset. Many people look skeptically at spontaneity, as if it is a sign of flightiness rather than a valuable asset. But high-achieving men and women know the advantages of being spontaneous, and making it part of their daily lives.

Spontaneity is a trait that many people incorrectly believe is of better use in your personal life than in your business life. Most people would agree on the value of spontaneity in relationships, where its a quality that can keep the excitement going. It breaks up the humdrum of the daily routine, and it allows for some creativity and fun. In a relationship, things can get stale, and spontaneity keeps things fresh.

But, spontaneity in the workplace is equally valuable. People often get bogged down by the fear of negative reaction or the fear of being criticized. Instead you need to allow yourself to take some risks. Some of your ideas will work out, and some wont: these are the facts of life. Spontaneity can be risky, but thats part of the fun of it.

Spontaneity can help reduce stress or even better, it can trigger a kind of positive stress, the kind that produces creativity and energizes you. For example, when unexpected problems come up, if you tackle them spontaneously, while keeping your mind open to all the possible solutions, you will feel less burdened and anxious than you would if youd let the problem sit there.

No one wants a leader who bounces back and forth in the corporate wind, lurching from whim to whim with no basis for the decision. Thats not spontaneity, its impulsiveness. If you have qualities such as integrity, honesty, and the ability to see the big picture, then youre a person who is willing take intelligent risks, and see your decision through. When you have these qualities you will be more successful when you are faced with situations in which you have to implement an idea or course of action spontaneously.

These basic qualities are important because, they will enable you to earn the trust of your colleagues. Your coworkers will be less resistant to what they might see as a seat-of-the-pants kind of decision. Your colleagues or subordinates will follow your game plan because they will trust you.

For example, lets say the CEO of your company is out of the office and your companys largest client calls to report a problem that needs immediate executive input. You quickly assemble your executive team, discover how the problem happened and respond to the client with a solution. Even though your solution was devised quickly, and was perhaps a little unorthodox, the staff followed your directives because they trust you. However, if the executive down the hall had been in charge, employees would have balked, because he or she doesnt have the trust of his or her colleagues.

So how can you develop your spontaneity, without making others feel uncomfortable? Here are few suggestions:

* Understand that issues or problems will crop up that need attention immediately. They cannot wait, because if they do, they will become worse.

* Understand that many of those around you are uncomfortable with snap decisions. They dont trust quick reactions because they dont think that much time or effort has gone into their development. Some wont see the need for a quick course of action.

* Understand that some of those around you may not be able to communicate the need for immediate attention to a particular issue or event. Be able to judge the severity of the problem and the timetable in which it needs to be solved.

* When you determine a course of action, always explain to others the rationale behind it.

* Let others know that your plan my be a short-term solution or stopgap measure and that other remedies may be needed for the future. Know that being spontaneous means changing course quickly and sometimes often. Never follow a course out of stubbornness. Rather, be able to see the need to switch gears based on principles of logic.

* Spontaneous people make mistakes. Dont be afraid to admit youve made a mistake, and then get on with your life. As the saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

There are many other ways to be spontaneous in conventional and accepted ways. Brainstorming sessions are a form of spontaneity. And there is always someone in a company or organization who is regarded as the "creative one." For example, the "creative one" is the person that everyone can always count on to give a seminar on how to problem-solve creatively to promote the idea of spontaneity in the workplace.

Unfortunately people dont allow themselves enough spontaneity. We have been conditioned that to get ahead, you often need to hold back. We tend to go for the group consensus, which also has its benefits. But when you dont have the freedom to make spontaneous comments or create ideas spontaneously, youre missing out on one of the best ways to work and live.

People who are spontaneous are confident, natural, and mentally healthy. They follow a process in which they open up their mind to explore all possible solutions to a problem, and then they let go of their agenda, ego, beliefs, and attitudes, and allow their creative flow to explore the different possibilities. When you are able to put yourself through this process you will enable yourself to achieve the highest levels of success.

Copyright2005 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.