As an entrepreneur, no matter how big or small your business may be right now, there are always problems waiting for you at the office.It could be team member who isn’t living up to your expectationsA supplier who keeps breaking their promisesAn unreasonable customer who won’t listen to logicOr a tight deadline that’s wrecking your work-life balance.Every day, you know that new problems will show up, or the same ones will re-surface in a different shape. Because you’re the leader, whether you caused these problems or not, they belong to you — and you alone..Until recently, I would often struggle because I didn't have a system I could rely on to solve problems quickly, elegantly, once and for all. My problem-solving skills needed work, and I'm sharing this technique with you in case we are in the same boat.It's called the 'Inversion Technique'. Take a close look at anything which is bugging you right now. And now imagine, very clearly, the worst way to address this problem.Go ahead..Instead of looking for a way to make things better, visualise the exact steps you could take right now that are guaranteed to make things worse.Stay with me here.This way of thinking — where you consider the direct opposite of what you want — is called the Inversion Technique. I’ve recently begun applying inversion in my life and it has helped me through a very stressful period..It’s teaching me that success is over-valued. What matters more is avoiding failure.The Inversion Technique works because while I may not know exactly how to solve every problem that comes my way, I definitely know how to make them worse.So now I just do the opposite of what I already know is the wrong thing to do.Let me try break down a few more examples.. When I'm trying to improve our customer service, I ask myself: 'What could we do today that would cause our customers to lose faith in us?’ ... then I just DON'T DO those things.As I work on my leadership skills, I ask myself: ‘How would I conduct myself if I wanted to be the worst CEO in Botswana?’ ... then I just DON'T DO those things.In terms of productivity, I ask myself: 'What’s a guaranteed way to decrease my focus and distract myself?’ ... then I just DON'T DO those things.And as a Dad, I ask: ‘What habits and behaviours would push mydaughters away from my love and protection?'... then I just DON'T DO those things..I'm learning that: You don't need to know what works. You just need to know what doesn't work.So, what are some of the problems you're facing in 2021, and how can the Inversion Technique help you simplify and eliminate them?Let me know, I'd love to hear from you.
As an entrepreneur, no matter how big or small your business may be right now, there are always problems waiting for you at the office.It could be team member who isn’t living up to your expectationsA supplier who keeps breaking their promisesAn unreasonable customer who won’t listen to logicOr a tight deadline that’s wrecking your work-life balance.Every day, you know that new problems will show up, or the same ones will re-surface in a different shape. Because you’re the leader, whether you caused these problems or not, they belong to you — and you alone..Until recently, I would often struggle because I didn't have a system I could rely on to solve problems quickly, elegantly, once and for all. My problem-solving skills needed work, and I'm sharing this technique with you in case we are in the same boat.It's called the 'Inversion Technique'. Take a close look at anything which is bugging you right now. And now imagine, very clearly, the worst way to address this problem.Go ahead..Instead of looking for a way to make things better, visualise the exact steps you could take right now that are guaranteed to make things worse.Stay with me here.This way of thinking — where you consider the direct opposite of what you want — is called the Inversion Technique. I’ve recently begun applying inversion in my life and it has helped me through a very stressful period..It’s teaching me that success is over-valued. What matters more is avoiding failure.The Inversion Technique works because while I may not know exactly how to solve every problem that comes my way, I definitely know how to make them worse.So now I just do the opposite of what I already know is the wrong thing to do.Let me try break down a few more examples.. When I'm trying to improve our customer service, I ask myself: 'What could we do today that would cause our customers to lose faith in us?’ ... then I just DON'T DO those things.As I work on my leadership skills, I ask myself: ‘How would I conduct myself if I wanted to be the worst CEO in Botswana?’ ... then I just DON'T DO those things.In terms of productivity, I ask myself: 'What’s a guaranteed way to decrease my focus and distract myself?’ ... then I just DON'T DO those things.And as a Dad, I ask: ‘What habits and behaviours would push mydaughters away from my love and protection?'... then I just DON'T DO those things..I'm learning that: You don't need to know what works. You just need to know what doesn't work.So, what are some of the problems you're facing in 2021, and how can the Inversion Technique help you simplify and eliminate them?Let me know, I'd love to hear from you.
