It's A Bit Like...

It's a Bit Like A Hall of Mirrors

2009-11-18T18:14:00.002Z

The last time I went to a Funfair I made a beeline for the Hall of Mirrors. I went to another in a Belgian town and they were exactly the same mirrors; I even saw the same ones in the Natural History Museum in London! Yet you can look at yourself through these mirrors and see something different every time – they have been designed to make you look different but in a pleasing, non-threatening way. After all you know you don’t really look like that…

It’s A Bit Like Applying Learning

When you first reflect on new learning it can seem confusing; it’s never exactly how it seems. Stepping back you see something new, looking closer up you see something new and different. Other people can add their perspective too and this also can change your view. And yet what has changed? The mirror is simply the learning, the view you have of yourself has changed. If not, you haven’t learned.

BitILike

“Learning to draw is really a matter of learning to see -- to see correctly -- and that means a good deal more than merely looking with the eye.” Kimon Nicolaides

It's A Bit Like Real Empathy

2009-11-17T18:32:00.004Z

Doing what I do, i.e. a trainer, I have content and I have delivery skills. It’s similar to the sun I guess (the solar object not the newspaper), it has heat and it shines. Trainers are hired to shine their heat and light on other people and situations. The good ones are aware of the effect that their message and their methods (of delivery) are having on the individual delegates; they have real empathy and don’t really need feedback forms – although their clients often do. Accomplished trainers, coaches and facilitators can change in mid-flow. It’s almost as if they can see the message being received from the other side.

It’s A Bit Like Stained Glass

The sun may be aware of the fact that it radiates; not being a scientist I reckon I’ll never know. But is the sun aware of what happens when its rays hit stained glass? Shards of colour, images and stories spray out in all directions, fragmenting and twisting even further as they are cast on different surfaces. All different people with many different takes on the projections take myriad meanings from the display. For some it is beautiful, others find it mysterious. And when the sun goes down (or shines its light elsewhere), memories and thoughts remain in the people who witnessed it.

BitILike

“Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight means to them?” Rose Kennedy

It’s A Bit Like Playing Squash

2009-09-18T09:29:00.004+01:00

According to Hashin Kahn, these are the basic rules of playing Squash;

Keep eye on ball

Move quick to T

Stay in crouch

Take big step

Keep ball far away from opponent

Have many different shots ready so opponent does not know what you do next

Do not relax because you play good shot, better you get ready for next shot

When you can, find out where opponent has idea to send ball

Have reason for every stroke you make

It’s A Bit Like Running a Business

Keep eye on ball (focus and concentration is an essential element)

Move quick to T (seek the position of greatest strength and comfort)

Stay in crouch (be ready to act at any time)

Take big step (think and act big, if that’s what you want to be)

Keep ball far away from opponent (avoid head on conflict where possible; bypass the opposition)

Have many different shots ready so opponent does not know what you do next (exactly so)

Do not relax because you play good shot, better you get ready for next shot (exactly so again)

When you can, find out where opponent has idea to send ball (know your competitors and act on your knowledge)

Have reason for every stroke you make (always think before acting)

BitILike

“Play by the rules, but be ferocious.” Phil Knight, (founder of Nike)

It’s A Bit Like Facing Backwards

2009-09-13T18:00:00.003+01:00

From my experience of rail travel, it seems that most people like to face the direction of travel. On airplanes too, we all face the way we’re going; except for the stewards who sit facing us, backs to the cockpit – maybe they know something?

In races, most people like to know where the start and the end points are and they normally face the direction of travel. This means that they can see the race unfolding, see who is in front and by how far and crucially see the winning post so that they can make a last minute charge.

I can only think of two races that are run with one’s back to the finish line – rowing and backstroke swimming.

It’s A Bit Like Having a Vision

A person who has a strong vision, doesn’t continually need to keep checking the line. The power of a great vision is that it’s in your mind’s eye rather than your actual eye. Without turning to look, people with a strong conviction of what they’re doing and what it will bring them, don’t have to keep looking at the prize or checking on the progress of everyone else.

BitILike

“To lead a symphony, you must occasionally turn your back on the crowd.” Anonymous

It’s A Bit Like Ali’s Right Hand

2009-09-10T09:49:00.004+01:00

When Ali fought George Foreman in 1974, he needed something special. He decided to use his right hand rather than his left to catch out Foreman. Aware of his limitations he said before the fight “I’m not going to dance, I’m going to knock him down in the 1^st round with my right hand”.

Nobody punches with the right hand generally because in a standard boxing stance, the punch has to travel from the back of the stance, right across the body. Normal fighters are trained to react in milliseconds, so this would be picked up by Foreman and leave Ali open to a counter punch from Foreman’s left hand.

Foreman didn’t even practice defending the right-handed attack as this would be an insult to Foreman’s natural ability.

It’s A Bit Like Innovation

I meet many people who say that they “can’t do Innovation”. People get closed off to Art, Creativity and Innovation because they think it requires brand new thinking. This belief is also underlined because someone probably once told them that they weren’t novel or artistic.

Innovation isn’t always brand new – we can take Innovation from history. We can build on other people’s ideas and create something for now; you just have to examine what is required, be prepared to take a risk and ignore others!

PS Ali hit Foreman with his right hand 12 times in the first 3 minutes. Whilst Foreman did not go down, he was shell-shocked and Ali went on to win the title.

BitILike

“In most cases, strengths and weaknesses are two sides of the same coin. A strength in one situation is a weakness in another, yet often the person can't switch gears. It's a very subtle thing to talk about strengths and weaknesses because almost always they're the same thing.” Steve Jobs

It’s A Bit Like Being A Chess Master

2009-09-08T14:37:00.006+01:00

Emo Phillips once said, “A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick-boxing”. This outlines for me that people and machines can be experts in one area but then not good in another.

In the 1970’s someone ran an experiment that showed a chess game in progress to a Chess Master and a chess amateur. When the board was removed after only a few seconds, the Chess Master could remember the layout of the entire game whereas the amateur could not. Expert conditioning.

It’s A Bit Like Thinking Outside The Box

On the other hand this experiment shows just how spectacularly narrow some expertise is. We automatically think that people who are experts in one field will be good in another and we can put experts on a pedestal and think ourselves somehow inferior to them. This applies to experts, grown ups, screen stars, senior managers, TV pundits, teachers, surgeons and the like.

We can do lots of things that they cannot do…

BitILike

“Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back into the same box.” Italian Proverb

It's A Bit Like Wearing Blinkers

2009-09-01T19:06:00.003+01:00

I attended a small race meeting in France last week and was able to see the horses up close in the parade ring, on the course and after the race. One of the horses was wearing blinkers during the race but not before it – and not after. Presumably the horse’s jockey was able to keep the animal’s full attention on the racetrack during the job in hand rather than worrying about what the rest of the field was up to.

It’s A Bit Like Sticking To The Task.

The time for creative, 360 degree thinking is on the run up to an event and when reviewing how it went. The time for concentrating on the job is during the ‘race’ when we are in the zone and have a specific goal to achieve.

Are blinkers there to reduce distractions or to focus the mind? Certainly they allow us to concentrate on our own strengths rather than worrying about what others might do.

BitILike

“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than
anything else, will affect its successful outcome.” William James

It’s A Bit Like a Waggle Dance

2009-09-01T17:43:00.001+01:00

Apiculturists (honey-bee types) refer to the Waggle Dance as the movements that a honey-bee makes back at the hive when it has found a particularly good source of nectar.

Evidently it gets an audience by performing this dance to anyone who will listen. The amount of times the Waggle is repeated determines the distance away and the direction of the source is indicated by the angle of the bee’s body. Others then fly off to access the same great source of nectar and the whole colony is better off.

It’s A Bit Like Referring Coaching or Training.

The strongest quality of referral is always personal experience (as top networkers will know); acting on what someone else says was excellent Coaching, Mentoring or Training.

I accept that there is an element of personal preference in all these areas but spreading the word back at the ranch when you come across something really good or unusual will usually benefit the whole company.

What’s more it can save money too on Customer Service questionnaires, feedback forms, 360 degree sheets and ‘How’s my Driving?’ numbers.

Its viral and it works – go tell someone now.

BitILike

“It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” Charles Dudley Warner

It's A Bit Like a Review

2009-08-10T11:06:00.008+01:00

One of the most valuable parts of any Project is the Review process.

As an interim process, it is the chance to stop, think and take stock. This action is what people refer to as ‘coming up for air’ or ‘walking up the hillside’ or the ‘helicopter view’. It doesn’t take long to ask questions like, “are we doing the right things?”, “are we making the expected progress?”, “are we in the right state or place to meet new opportunities?” or “are the stakeholders on board?”.

As a final process, it is the chance to look back and view everything in perspective. “What were the successes? What have we learned? What would we change next time?”

It’s A Bit Like Looking Through the Rear Window.

You will recall, as a child, looking through the rear window on a long car journey. You see things differently to the driver.

It’s usually clearer (no flies and bugs)and you can trace the tracks you’ve taken, What’s more you have lots of time to see the detail – things aren’t flying past at 60 mph and you don’t see others advice and warning signs which might derail you. When you’re looking forward, your eyes and ears are drawn to what’s happening next.

Looking back does not appear to be getting you anywhere; which is probably why only 20% of Project Managers do it…

BitILike

“Hindsight, usually looked down upon, is probably as valuable as foresight, since it does include a few facts.” Grace Paley

It’s A Bit Like Learning Something New

2009-08-07T11:00:00.004+01:00

When learning something new, we can be either totally absorbed, absorbing and love everything about a new subject or we can be un-convinced. If we are the latter, it’s easier to find excuses why this new thing is not for you.

For example, I’m reviewing a book for a magazine at the moment and I don’t fully agree with the author’s view on the subject. Hence I’m finding it hard to stay objective and to look at his point of view. Equally, if you are sceptical of a new idea you can start looking for things that are not to your liking – once you start to look for those things, you know you will find them. Hey presto, you can give up on learning – so don’t do it!

It’s A Bit Like A Buffet. (My thanks to my friend Keith for this one)

You’ll remember your last buffet spread - whether it was at a business function or at a wedding. You stand there with your china/paper plate and spork and start to gaze at the wondrous things that have been offered to you; some familiar favourites, some new. Then your eyes alight on the one thing you cannot bear – olives!

I’ve never known anyone walk away from the buffet table shouting that “All this food is awful!” just because of some small part that they don’t like. You ignore the olives and simply enjoy whatever else is there.

BitILike

“Our doubts are traitors. And make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” William Shakespeare

It's A Bit Like Goals

2009-08-07T10:53:00.002+01:00

The main point of having a goal is that we can score, and the main point of keeping score is so that we can measure our performance against another team or ourselves. Most people know the benefit of having goals but some don’t know how they break down.

High-level goals should describe what you want to do at strategic level e.g. to get from A to B; if you’re part of an Organisation or Team it must be in line with its goal too.

How you will achieve those goals is more localised but is usually expressed in milestones and hence progress is trackable and mistakes and errors can be quickly corrected along the way.

The detailed plan of what you will do in reaching the milestones is down to you, as is the input of personal drive and the overcoming of setbacks.

It’s A Bit Like Reading A Map. On a map you can see where you are and where you want to go. It can also provide different routes and checkpoints for you to monitor progress. But the devil is in the detail; ground level progress is never quite as easy as just reading the map. There can be blind alleys, cows, barbed wire, changes in terrain, even issues brought about by seasonal change or holding the map upside-down!

Finally, always make sure the map given to you is true; it may be somebody else’s view of how things are. Try walking round your city using a Tube Map showing underground railtracks.

BitILike

“A goal is not the same as a desire, and this is an important distinction to make. You can have a desire you don't intend to act on. But you can't have a goal you don't intend to act on.” Tom Morris

It's A Bit Like Saying I Love You

2009-08-07T10:49:00.003+01:00

Love is never having to say ‘I love you’. Growing up in an environment where ILY was not a regular comment, I guess I attach different significance to the phrase than some today. Kissing was something that elderly Aunts did to you at Christmas (oh, the smell of advocaat and Lily of the Valley) and Love was something that you saved up ages for in order to lavish on one girl. Or boy…whatever

It’s A Bit Like Tennis – hearing Love all the time and not being part of the game.

Today it’s gone the way of the Zimbabwe Dollar; thrown around with gay abandon, offered to anyone who happens to be listening. People on Facebook and Bebo tell each other that they love them, people sign leaving cards with ‘lots of love’ when they hardly know the other person. We’re in a post-East-Enders time warp where everybody calls anybody ‘darling’ or ‘sweetheart’.

It’s a great thing that we all have our own currency and we know what it buys.

BitILike

“Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart.” Anon

It’s A Bit Like Red Onion

2009-08-05T13:00:00.001+01:00

I know a number of people who have a rule about not eating certain foods, especially at lunchtime. The foods are in this category not because they’re disliked but because they cause slight indigestion; they repeat.

I know someone who will not touch cucumber at lunchtime for this reason. For others it is peppers (capsicum), curry, or cheese and onion crisps (chips). My own bête-noire is Red Onion. I am reminded all afternoon about the taste of it and I’m sure others around me are too!

It’s A Bit Like Feedback. Sometimes you invite it, sometimes it is offered. Some people can take a little, others can manage a lot. Either way, it can stay with you for a long time.

The rules of giving feedback are legion; check that it’s timely, positive, action oriented, specific – the list goes on. I have only one rule that all givers need to make; check your intent. If your intent is good then the feedback is probably good. Once it’s on offer, the decision is with the receiver how they would like to digest it.

BitILike

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh