Tool Box
Issue No. 23 - June/Nuly 2005
Perceive your business environment
by Dr David Corkindale and Dr David Corkindale
Staying successful in today's competitive and fast paced commercial climate can stretch the best of us. Gaining more insight into the environment that we are doing business in and the people who we are dealing with can be of great advantage in making better choices and better decisions for ourselves and the organisations that we are working for.
How do we gain more insight? By developing our Perceptual Sensitivity!
Developing our capacity for perceptual sensitivity allows us to make finer distinction of our environment. It greatly influences the effectiveness of how we can gauge, relate and respond to the situations at hand.
How do we develop perceptual sensitivity? By becoming Multi Dimensional Observers.
When we observe a situation through only a single dimension (eg from our own point of view), we may limit our perception that is influenced by our current state of mind, emotions, opinions, values and believes.
When we observe a situation through multiple dimensions (eg from the point of views of multiple observational positions) then we can maximise our perception that is much more accurate and balanced.
5 Observational Positions
Here is a little exercise using "5 Observational Positions" that will enhance your perceptual sensitivity skills.
1st position: Viewing through your own eyes
2nd position: Viewing through the eyes of others
3rd position: Viewing through the eyes of a third/neutral observer
4th position: Viewing through the eyes of the system (ie family, business, community, etc.)
5th position: Viewing through the eyes of the global observer
Next time you are interacting with a colleague, staff, superior, customer, etc., in a business environment, get a sense of the interaction through the 5 described positions. (Note: It will be very helpful if you approach this exercise from a place of curiosity and playfulness).
Part 1
Firstly, describe the si...
