Patterns of Language and Thinking
Ever wished you could workout what’s going on with some of your team members or work colleagues? Well I believe if you listen closely enough to what is being said, and how, you can gain insight into so much more than just their words.
The most powerful director is the one we have in our heads, constantly talking to us and shaping the way we think and therefore act.
When we can consciously listen to what’s going on in our own heads, we can uncover some amazing patterns of thinking. And, of course if we can sharpen our attention, we can do this for ourselves and with others.
Here are some common thinking patterns that people operate everyday, perhaps without even realising:
- Generalisations – ‘I always get nervous in presentations’. A good challenge to this is – ‘has there ever been a time when you didn’t get nervous?’
- Deletions – ‘customers are a real pain’. Challenges here could be – ‘All customers? Which customers in particular? Are there any that are not a pain?’
- Distortions – ‘He/she makes me so angry’. Now this is a really interesting one, because the truth is that no one makes any one angry, people choose/allow themselves to react which creates their anger. You will often get push back on this one, as many people put themselves into ‘victim’ mode, and cannot conceive that they have control over their own emotions.
When you take the time to engage with those around you and listen and question to understand what’s really going on, you may be surprised at what you find – and so may they!
If you would like to know more about language and what makes us behave the way we do, then contact me, and we can talk!
