Mastering Streaming with the Power of Systems

 Mastering Streaming with the Power of Systems

In several past entries, we've emphasized the significance of building and adhering to systems to enhance our effectiveness. In streaming, such systems might involve creating a pre-stream checklist, formulating an elevator pitch for our streams, or maintaining a calendar to manage your behind-the-scenes tasks better. The level of reliability we achieve when we meticulously plan and follow through with our actions is remarkable. However, if we are still struggling to maintain your habits, perhaps you've read about the systems we have suggested but believed they weren't suitable for you. Alternatively, you may have attempted to implement them but encountered challenges in getting them to work smoothly. This entry will guide you in leveraging systems more effectively to strengthen your streaming habits.

Power of systems

Systems are most effective when tailored to address specific problems and eliminate them. By employing such a method, individuals undergo a comprehensive retraining of their cognitive processes. To illustrate the utility and ultimate efficacy of this approach, consider an example involving a forgetful individual constantly misplacing their keys.

Sarah often found herself in a panic when leaving her house, unable to locate her keys. Despite her attempts to establish a routine for keeping track of them, she repeatedly faced this frustrating situation. Recognizing the need for a solution, Sarah decided to implement a strict system whenever she returned home. Before doing anything else, she made it a habit to hang her keys on a designated hook by the door. This is a simple yet effective system that ensures that Sarah never misplaces her house keys again, providing her with a sense of security and saving her from unnecessary stress.

This example highlights the effectiveness of systematic approaches in daily life. Inspired by her success, Sarah applied similar methods to overcome other challenges, systematically addressing issues beyond her memory or skill set by following predefined protocols. Such systematic thinking can also benefit activities like streaming. Just as Sarah’s system prevented key misplacement, streamers can develop pre-stream checklists to optimize their streaming process, ensuring a smoother experience for themselves and their viewers. Implementing effective systems enhances streamers' productivity, consistency, and overall success in the competitive streaming landscape.

Stream System Success

If you're finding it difficult to remember to activate your camera before a stream or struggling with your spoken introduction, how can you employ systems to enhance your consistency? What makes a system effective compared to simply relying on memory? Systems provide a shortcut to your unconscious brain, bypassing the need for conscious thought. Think about brushing your teeth: you don't actively think about each step, you just do it automatically because it's part of your routine. Similarly, systems establish patterns of behavior that become ingrained over time, making tasks like starting a stream or delivering an introduction second nature. Just as brushing your teeth becomes a mindless task, systems ensure that essential actions are executed effortlessly and consistently.

Internalizing tasks can be accelerated by changing how they are executed. Consider the example of never forgetting keys: the success of the system wasn’t due to memory improvement but rather the establishment of fail-safe measures. By setting up a system where leaving without the keys wasn’t an option, even if they were forgotten, Sarah had to backtrack and retrieve them. Instead of relying on memory, this approach relies entirely on the system designed to compensate for any deficiencies. Similar to programming software, it involves selecting and sequencing actions appropriately.

Similar principles can be applied to your streaming habits. Any action that doesn't demand critical thinking can be mentally automated through the building of a solid system, followed by an implicit trust in that system. Just as we discussed the 'Architect and Builder' concept in a previous entry named Conquering Challenges and Prioritizing Content, meticulous planning enables seamless execution of predetermined actions. For example, we emphasized the importance of using a calendar rigorously to prioritize streaming amidst other commitments. Additionally, in another entry called Your Elevator Pitch, we emphasized the significance of pre-planning your channel introduction to enhance coherence in content delivery. Although these systems may not be flawless initially, consistent planning and revision, as discussed in another entry named Crafting a Pre-stream Checklist, can eliminate mistakes and optimize results over time.

Final thoughts

You don't need to create formal actions every time you do a stream-related task. However, when trying to break a bad habit or create a good one, you should focus less on thinking and more on following instructions. By building a strong enough system and practicing, it will prevent you from making that mistake again. As the saying goes, "Practice makes perfect." When we are distracted or under pressure, we are most at risk of making mistakes, but by implementing a foolproof system beforehand, we’ll be prepared for anything. This technique has been extremely helpful for me, and I hope you’ll find just as much success in strengthening your streaming habits!