Change of perspective
Jul 06, 2018
Ever feel like you’re deeply stuck on something? It’s like you’re wading through oatmeal and despite wanting to make progress, it feels impossible. Perhaps you’re spinning in circles, wondering how to get yourself moving forward again. Maybe it just feels like too much work.
Yep, I’ve been there. Sometimes it feels like I’m enclosed in a room and when I run forward to open the door, I find myself facing another door. And another. And another. All of the doors have to be opened before I see success and there are a whole lot of doors.
Good news! There are plenty of ways to get unstuck. My new favorite is an exercise in changing perspectives. I’ve been doing this with clients with fantastic results. Here’s how it goes:
We start by getting really clear on the topic, taking all of the emotion out of it. Let’s use the example of New Clients.
Then we name the current perspective, which is all emotion and feeling. If we’re not easily attracting new clients, the perspective might be Scarcity.
Then things get really fun.
Moving about the room, I’ll throw out a new perspective and have the client describe that to me. I’m always fascinated by what comes up – it’s never what I think it will be. For example, if I say “Tell me about the Coffee Cup example,” a client might connect with “artistic” as they think of how places like Starbucks design different cup styles. We’ll play with that a little bit, then directing them back to their topic of New Clients, I ask what’s possible from the Coffee Cup perspective.
We do this a few more times, generating 5 – 6 new perspectives. With each one, we take a few steps to a different part of the room – literally and figuratively gaining a new perspective. Then I ask the client to really feel each and pick the one that’s most resonant. This is the new perspective from which to view New Clients. So far, it’s been 100% more positive than the current perspective. And that positivity allows new things to happen.
This exercise often leads to brainstorming specific action steps that will help them gain New Clients. Not only does the client have a new outlook, they have a plan to help get them there!
