In our last blog we talked about how a leader’s limiting beliefs can obstruct growth, impede teamwork, and create damaging ripple effects throughout the organization.
Read on for some tips on how to poke holes in those beliefs so that success will flow to you more easily.
Awareness and acknowledgement: Our beliefs keep us in invisible boxes, filtering what we see and influencing where we put our attention. Therefore, the first step is to become aware of what those beliefs are and then acknowledge that they may reflect only your experience or opinion, not necessarily reality. To get clear on what your beliefs are, ask yourself, “What am I telling myself about this situation?” It can also be extremely helpful to talk to others who can take a more objective view.
Separate beliefs from reality: Once you have identified what your limiting belief is, preface your mental statements with, “I have the thought that ______”, filling in the blank with your belief. For example, the owner of a new start-up company who is worried about getting paying customers, might say, “I have the thought that no one will want my product.” This helps you stay alert to the fact that this is a story you are creating in your head and not an actual fact.
Look for contrary evidence: Energy flows where attention goes. If you are focused on your limiting beliefs they will multiply, becoming easier to see and harder to discredit. Therefore, you must deliberately change where you put your attention. One way to do this is to name 10 true things that are opposite of the stories you are carrying in your head. For example, the owner of a construction company was frustrated with the reliability of his crew. Taking our advice, he listed 10 positive incidents of employees who showed up and followed through on their work.
Say thanks in advance: Our thoughts can become self-fulfilling prophecies so be active in creating your reality. This is the advice we recently gave to an executive in a stressful new role. Rather than ruminating about how hard the work is and her fears that she won’t learn it, we suggested she express gratitude that work is “easy and fun”.
These are just a few of the ways that you can adjust your mindset and thereby change your experience. Want to learn more? Or need accountability to practice what you learn?
Let G2 Solutions help! Contact us for a free consultation.
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