Dear Alan

This month we are examining a useful new take on mindsets. No matter how many tools and techniques you learn, it's unlikely you'll ever apply them when you're in the grip of 'constrictive' mindsets. Read on to see what we mean…

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Best wishes,

Kate and Gil

Solid as a Brick Wall!

If you're in the business of managing others or supporting people in getting things done, you've probably heard one or more versions of the following: 

"Oh, I tried that before. It didn't work. In fact, it won't work!"

The problem is, you know it will work. You've seen it done successfully in the past and you know what you're recommending has a good chance of success. If only they'd give it a chance…

What you've run into, just like a brick wall, is a mindset. And mindsets are very solid, whether you're the person with the mindset, or the person trying to change it!

So, if you suggest to your sales people that you raise your prices, and you happen to hit a certain mindset very prevalent at the moment, you could expect to hear some of the following:

• "We just can't offer even more value for the price we charge, especially in this economy."
• "Our prices are already high, so we can't raise them further."
• "We like to be known as a business with affordable prices."
• "If we raise our prices it will hurt our business."
• "Let's talk about something else..."

Like we said, solid as a brick wall!

Only Other People Have Mindsets, Don't They?

One thing about mindsets is that it's easy to see them in others but very hard to see them in yourself. Sure, you have opinions (based on experience) and you have certain ways you think you should run your business. But you're definitely not stuck in any mindsets. Or are you?

Mindsets (not circumstances) shape actions, performance and results. If you've ever been stuck and unable to take a particular action or produce a certain result, there must have been a mindset firmly in place, or there would be no struggle.

Everything you experience is based on a mindset. Every thought, opinion, attitude, business practice, principle, creative idea, everything you do in your business (and life) are all based on mindsets.

Two Kinds of Mindset

The good news is that there are two kinds of mindset: expansive and constrictive.

With an expansive mindset you see new possibilities, are not defensive, are curious and interested in how things work. You are always wondering how to make things better, make a bigger contribution and how to grow. You can produce great performance and results from an expansive mindset.

When in a constrictive mindset, you see difficulties, problems, and obstacles. You will insist on being right and will not be very interested in exploring, learning or growing. In a constrictive mindset you are always thinking how to be comfortable and safe. Poor performance and results come from constrictive mindsets.

How Do You Know Which Mindset You are In?

The key is in the struggle. If you are finding it difficult to motivate yourself, to get into action, or to produce effective results, you are in a constrictive mindset. If everything is flowing smoothly, you seem to produce results effortlessly and everything seems fun, you are in an expansive mindset.

How to Transform Constrictive Mindsets

The way to transform your constrictive mindsets into expansive ones is to take the following steps:

1. First, realise that you have a constrictive mindset. If you find yourself resisting this step, just look at the evidence. Are you happy and fulfilled, producing a steady flow of successful outcomes? No? Then there's your answer!
2. Then look at what hanging onto that mindset is costing you (in terms of results, happiness and fulfilment). 
3. The final step is to start imagining what things would be like without that old mindset. Build a really clear picture in your mind of what success looks like, and take action consistent with this picture.

Some of the most constrictive mindsets we see in business are related to producing results, and leading and motivating staff. The symptoms are 'no plan', 'poor organisation', 'blame' and 'fear'. All of these come from constrictive mindsets.

What Mindsets About Your Business Would You Like to Transform?

Would you like to be able to raise your prices? Meet your targets consistently? Attract more customers? Communicate about your products and services with more impact? Lead an inspired and inspiring team of staff? Have more fulfilment, satisfaction, fun and success at work?

There are specific how-tos - skills which you can learn if you don't have them already - for all these areas. But before you go on yet another training course, we can assure you that you'll find it a whole lot easier if you transform your constrictive mindsets first!

There's nothing more important you can do for your business, your customers and your staff than work on transforming your constrictive mindsets into expansive ones. If you'd like further help, give us a call on 01865 883423, or email us on info@shineconsulting.co.uk.

From the Shine Blog:

What is it about 'Change' that has some people react like rabbits in a headlight? ...more

Acknowledgement:

For the ideas in this month's article on mindsets, to Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing - many thanks.

The Shine Website:

You can find out more about us and the work we do on our website where you can also find previous issues of this newsletter.