Visualising
After the initial shock and stress of the pandemic, it is time for us leaders to start engaging fully with the post-pandemic world—for there are tougher and hitherto unprecedented challenges on the near horizon. They cannot be ignored. The planet, and her people, cannot wait.
Recent research has proven that when we can see a result – in our minds – we have a greater chance of achieving it. This is kind of common sense – if we don’t know what winning a world cup might look or feel like, the chances that we will be motivated or driven enough to play brilliantly is quite small. But if we can see it – almost touch, smell and feel it – then it gives us a much greater chance of making it happen. Seeing it, or visualising it, works for anything. When we invest time visualising an idea, goal or strategy in our imagination we access more of the latent power of our inner mind.
The recent world-cup winning English rugby team used visualisation extensively. But it’s not just top sports coaches who know and use the power of visualisation. Actors, politicians, world leaders all know that the more they use their imagination to see in their mind’s eye what they want to create, the more their talents, skills and potential take note and start to work even harder for them. If you don’t believe them, test it out yourself…
The test:
Next time you have an important meeting, date or presentation, follow this simple process:
1. The night before spend five or ten minutes with your eyes shut, imagining walking away from your meeting or appointment delighted with how well you performed or felt. We hope it’s obvious that you might not be able to change other people’s behaviour with visualisation so focus on your own experience
2. When you are doing the visualisation, focus not just on seeing yourself leave but also on feeling how good it feels to leave having been that great. Imagine seeing other people congratulating you or smiling at you because of how you performed
3. A few minutes before going to your meeting, close your eyes for a moment and re-visualise that sight and feeling of you walking away happy, vibrant or excited
And see what happens!
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