Grab a piece of paper and imagine the following scenario.
You have worked 6 months on a top priority project for the CEO.
Today you are presenting your recommendations to him,
along with his top team.
Thank you for your report and your presentation.
Peter will talk to you about everything you brought up.
We will consider it.
I see you soon.
How did that go?
Could you imagine the situation and what you would feel like?
What would be your thoughts in such a moment?
One way to think about this is as follows: The CEO left because he was irritated by my
presentation.
I am not smart enough to give this presentation.
In fact, I think I do not have what it takes for my
position in general.
Now my career at this company is in jeopardy.
This is a pessimistic view of what happened.
Exaggerated?
If this would happen in real life, a lot of people would feel like this.
However, there are other ways to view the event.
He listen!
I had to go.
I had to talk to John, cause John really need talking to.
He was very much against to your ideas.
I think they are great.
I thought your report was sublime.
I thought your presentation was very skillful, excellently done.
But john had to be talk to.
John is onboard now.
So you can go ahead, you can make a plan and start implementing
your ideas.
John and I will give you all the backup you need.
By simply reflecting on our ability to frame and reframe reality in any moment,
we are able to shift from default response to reflective action.
In short, it helps us become less reactive and more
proactive.
The key here is not to become an unrealistic optimist,
but to increase your awareness of how you are viewing a certain situation.
This can then help you examine the evidence for your thoughts and maybe shift to a more
realistic point of view.