Visualize Ideal Outcomes to Increase Agility

When you are very clear about what you want, you picture the outcomes in your mind, and when you engage in taking actions toward your goals, you will be far more agile. Here is an exercise I often use:

Brian has an important meeting coming up. The stakes are high, and the outcome is unknown. To help him prepare, I ask Brian to pretend that the meeting has already taken place and was very successful. I keep asking questions until Brian can describe the meeting in great detail. I ask him:

1. What are the participants thinking? He says, “They are thinking that the subject matter was fully discussed in a very logical manner. They are thinking they have enough information to make decisions about the next steps. They are thinking about their next steps.”

2. What are the participants feeling? “They are feeling confident and are ready to take action to move the project along. They feel that their concerns were heard and addressed proactively.”

3. What are you thinking? “I’m glad I listened first and then shared our findings later. I’m thinking it was very helpful to address questions and concerns and to also keep the conversation focused on the subject. And I’m glad I incorporated their views into the recommendations.”

4. What are you feeling? “I am feeling confident and committed to the project.”

Brian’s answers served as a powerful guide as he entered the meeting. During the meeting, something was said by a participant that was not taken in the way that Brian had hoped. At this point, Brian had such a clear expectation of what was going to happen and what everyone was thinking and feeling that he sprang into action. Brian told me, “We addressed the participants’ questions and concerns in a systematic manner. We kept the conversation focused on the subject and successfully redirected communication when it began to stray off subject. We solicited ideas for action on the project and were able to share our findings and recommendations while incorporating the thoughts and ideas of all participants, leaving everyone feeling involved and integral to the project’s success.”

Brian was able to bring the meeting around to a positive place. By operating from this position of intention, serotonin was released inside Brian’s brain, and he responded with creativity and innovation on the spot.

For yourself, recognize the value and importance of agility and creating more and more pathways in your brain so that you, like Brian, will operate from a standpoint of greater clarity. You will make shifts easily in actual situations because you have been there before in your mind.