This week’s Quick List* is a companion piece to our Quote of the Week which can help us manage mistakes, problems, change, people and ourselves; and in the process, boost morale, productivity and overall performance.
Of course if we looked harder at EVERYTHING, we would never get anything done. But what if we looked at the big things.? The things that are causing problems. The things that are making us angry at people in our lives. The things that are taking up energy.
Look at the picture beside this week’s quote (left). What do you see there? A man?
Is that really what you are looking at? Look harder. Or not necessarily harder – but differently. From a different perspective. Tilt your head to the right and look at the picture. See anything different?
You might also try Business Class Brainteaser #37.
Exercises like these help loosen the brain. They also serve as reminders that we see different things and that there is often not one right answer.
Why might this matter?
Here are some real life morale and productivity busting examples in which looking harder (or from a different perspective) at the exact same situation can result in a totally different interpretation and resulting reaction.
1. When we judge someone as irresponsible, is that really true? Perhaps. But what if we looked harder? Read: The Man on the Subway.
2. What about Jane? She rarely joins in conversations at the water cooler, team lunches or after-work visits to the bar. She’s just not a team player. Is that true? Or is she painfully shy? Or perhaps going through a very hard time at home?
3. What about the person who didn’t speak to you in the hallway today? He must be really mad that you didn’t give him a raise. Is that really true? Or was he trying to focus on the presentation he’s about to make? Or perhaps so nervous about the presentation that he needed to rush to the Men’s Room?
4. What about that look of disapproval on your bosses’ face when you shared your new idea? Was that really a look of disapproval? Or does she have a terrible migraine?
5. What about the people in the break room who got totally silent when you walked into the room? Were they really saying bad things about you? Or were they preparing to nominate you for an award?
6. What about the people on your team who don’t do what you need them to do? Is that because they are lazy and slack? Or is it because they don’t know what you want them to do?
7. The prospect who isn’t returning your phone calls….is she really not interested in you and your product? Is she rude? Or is she overwhelmed like a large majority of business people, and simply hasn’t had time to call you back?
8. What about the sales decrease you are seeing right now? Is it really because the economy if off? Or is it because your sales staff has been making fewer calls?
9. What about the increase in accounts receivable? Is that because of the economy? Or has something changed in your billing department?
10. What about you and your flaws? Do you worry that your boss favors your co-workers over you because they don’t have such flaws? Read: Working with a Bunch of Crack Pots?
Got any other situations to share for this list?
By the way – besides “looking”, what’s a good way to find the answers to the above questions?
Notes:
1. We don’t know the creator of the images shared here. If you do, will you tell us so we can credit that person?
2. In the image beside the quote, do you see a man? When you tilted your head to the right, did you see a word.
3. This weekly feature is for managers who don’t have time or don’t want to make time to read lengthy articles or even short paragraphs. We call it a Quick List. AKA – 10 by 10 on Tuesday. 10 ( ideas or tips or questions or steps or ways to Get 2 Goal or Be a Better Manager, etc) by 10 (AM – EST) on Tuesdays. Click here if you’d like to see all Quick Lists created to date.
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