Two ways to make clearer sense of a changing world

In a time of change it can be easy to misinterpret events. Things no longer work the way they used to and reactions of stress, fear, and anxiety can make it harder for us to see a clear way forward.

After we have centred, grounded, and connected deeply with ourselves, the second step of Inner Leadership is to pause explicitly and take stock of our situation.

One part of doing this is to identify and unravel the distorted thinking that comes when we assume the world still works the way it used to. We make better sense of what is happening and also release any inappropriate emotional responses. The first tool of Chapter 2 shows us how to do this. It reminds us that in a churning world there is always more than one explanation for what is happening, more than one way events might turn out, and it helps us to find the alternative interpretations that make most sense.

At the same time, new patterns will be emerging: new business models, new customer needs, new opportunities, and new threats. As our conscious minds try to make sense of what is happening they will think in terms of the ways the world used to work. They may become confused or misled. But our unconscious minds will already be making clearer sense of the emerging patterns.

The second tool of Chapter 2 shows us how to call on the power of our intuition to helps us make new sense of the world: both to understand what is happening and to find new solutions.

If we do not apply these tools, any strategic or tactical assessment we make is likely to be based on outdated assumptions based on the way the world used to work. And until we apply them we are limiting our range of options for moving forward.

By applying them we also become more confident about what is happening, find more options to move forward, and this increases our chances of getting the results we want.

When faced with a new situation, do you take the time to pause and check for whether you are making assumptions and whether they might be mistaken? Do you tend to assume that the world still works the way it used to? Do you call on your intuition to help you find solutions?

Adapted from Inner Leadership: tools for building inspiration in times of change.

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