Our minds are very clever at running through the same ideas over and over, like a needle stuck in a groove on a vinyl record spinning over and over, around and around.
That's great for turning new information into knowledge or skills. Our mind will keep busy, running images and ideas in the background while our conscious attention is on other matters. It's helpfully building our expertise. But it sure gets in the way of coming up with new approaches to situations that are stalled. In fact, the end result of that 'helpful' mental activity is that...
We often give the available options no attention at all. And we don't take advantage of the High Payoff information available in the minds of other people around us.
And then no shift in understanding is made. No new decision is made. No targeted plan of action is designed or implemented.
But relief is at hand! I often say "God bless the guy who invented the Post-It Note!" Those wonderful little sticky pieces of paper have liberated our busy minds. Whether you use sticky paper or scraps you tear up for yourself, you'll want them on hand for the next version of our technique to
REFRAME - Change Your Frame of Reference
There are several versions of this technique. Two that I've shared include
Version 1 - Add a new person with a different background to the conversation.
Version 2 - Add a new 'setting' to the conversation.
Remember as you use those versions of Reframing - The less similar the circumstances, the less similar the experience of the new person you add to the conversation, the quicker you'll see the assumptions you've been making that have been preventing you from seeing the alternatives you could pursue.
And here is a third approach. I've used it in boardrooms, conference rooms, offices, park benches and on airplanes:
Version 3 - The Shuffle
Whether you're trying to solve a business issue for a client, or the matter is internal to your own business productivity, treat the information like pieces in a Rubik's cube. Shuffling all the information into new positions and changing their pairings lets you see them in a new way. It can quickly reveal the assumptions that have been stalling your progress.
Write all the issues and ideas on separate pieces of paper, and pair them up randomly. You can use Post-It Notes, torn paper, the back of business cards! On a separate piece of paper capture each of the 'new' ideas that comes to mind.
If you're doing this as a team, using sticky notes up on the wall lets everyone's mind join in, jotting, shuffling and sharing the new ideas and realizations.
You'll fill pages of alternative ideas that you can let yourself or your team continue to probe and play with, so be sure to set a time horizon for The Shuffle and for when you'll sit down again to sort through and prioritize those new ideas.
You know you've got something your mind's been chewing on. So grab this Reframe technique and apply it today and let's get you moving again so you can boost your productivity this week.
Copyright (c) 2008 Linda Feinholz
While thinking of a new car purchase, most of us drop the idea of negotiating with so much of energy required in the process. Permit me to share some secrets of car dealers to make big earnings. Keeping in mind the picture behind a car deal will make you avail a good bargain. Dealers, in addition to 20-25% income on retail price, get bonus incentives with every sale & they get it better if its the end of month or quarter. So check out some common tactics a shrewd dealer can use.
Making you emotional With your every effort of seeking for a discount, they'll make you see their family snap available on their desk. You'll be made to feel guilty of pushing down their commission amount that will not help him meet his family demands.and under this feeling of guilt you may pay extra, remember to think objectively if and when such a situation comes up.
Sucking your energy Either settle with the amount or deplete yourself of time & energy. They'll exhaust you by asking you to negotiate with their managers (who are actually dealers) to settle your proposed discount. Once you track this trick, ask for the actual manager & you'll finalize the deal soon.
The Test Run everyone enjoys the feeling of a car and more so the test drive.the method employed by the salesman is to get you pumped up and have an attachment with the vehicle so that you may want to take it even without a test drive for the feelings it stirs in you, beware of this technique and make sure not to cut corners in test drive.
keeping these things in mind will go a long way in helping you procure the best deal on the car that you always desired.
Both Linda Feinholz & Robert Thomson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Linda Feinholz has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education Toys, Small Business and Your Online Business. Management expert, consultant, and coach Linda Feinholz is "Your High Payoff Catalyst" If you're ready to focus on your High Payoff activities, boost your professional and personal results and have more fun, get her FREE audio mini-course "7 Quick & Simpl. Linda Feinholz's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Robert Thomson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Personal Desktop, Finances and Pets. Bruno Silva is the author of . You can find more information at. Robert Thomson's top article generates over 450000 views. to your Favourites.