Improvise With Confidence

Ready — Before Ronald Reagan became the 40th President of the United States, he was a sportscaster in the 1930s. One of his most memorable experiences was as a radio announcer for WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, where he covered Chicago Cubs baseball games. During these broadcasts, he wasn’t watching the games live; instead, he received updates via ticker tape, which provided written descriptions of the plays.

Set — One day, while Reagan was in the middle of announcing a Cubs game, the ticker tape machine stopped working. He found himself in a difficult position, as he had no real-time information about the ongoing game. Rather than falling silent, Reagan tapped into his creativity. He improvised the action, describing imaginary plays and adding dramatic flair to keep listeners engaged. His inventive play-by-play continued for several minutes until the ticker tape resumed, and he could provide accurate updates once again.

Tap into these insights from Reagan’s experience to keep the action going in your own work.

• Stay Calm Under Pressure: Maintain composure so you can think and act when unexpected situations arise.

• Practice Creative Thinking: Engage in creative exercises to enhance your ability to find innovative solutions.

• Embrace Flexibility: Adjust your plans as you go, so you can navigate unforeseen challenges.

• Display Confidence: Exhibit confidence as you improvise, so you can keep the trust of people around you.

Grow! — Reagan’s quick thinking and improvisational skills during this unexpected challenge illustrated his ability to adapt and remain composed under pressure—traits that served him well throughout his career. Prepare yourself to improvise. One of these days, you’ll need to do it.