Fight, Flight or Freeze?

Jan 29

You're probably familiar with the 'fight or flight' concept…

But a less talked about – and equally dangerous – response is freeze. 🦌

And as business owners, we're particularly vulnerable to it.

Because we're so close to the business, we often become hyperaware of every challenge, risk, and problem. Over time, that can create a feeling of overwhelm.

And when everything feels urgent, the easiest thing to do is nothing.

The key to breaking out of this state is perspective. There's no better way to get out of your own head than to talk things through with someone you trust.

For me, that's my wife Ches (she's amazing) or my own business coach, Bruce.

Another tool I love is the GROW model, created by executive coach and author John Whitmore.

It’s a simple framework designed to help you step back from a challenge and gain clarity. It works by walking you through four questions:

G – Goal: What am I trying to achieve?
R – Reality: What's actually happening right now?
O – Options: What possible paths could I take?
W – Way Forward: What am I going to do next?

Often, when we're stuck, we don't need more answers – we need a better way to think.

The GROW model helps you slow down, see the situation more clearly, and make a decision from a place of perspective rather than overwhelm.