The effect of feedback?
I find that I have to draw pictures when I am thinking - it seems to help. One thing I have been thinking about this week is how to predict the outcome of an action; because I don’t want to do something that has a negative outcome that I did not anticipate.
I know that whatever I do will change the “system” and may have an ongoing effect that may be positive and negative. Once the ball is rolling even reversing my action may not change the course.
So the problem I have is that, although I can work out what I feel is the best thing to do now, I do not seem to be able to predict the knock on effects of my actions. I know from experience that I may be the recipient of the future effect of my actions today. I will get feedback one way or the other.
So here’s my problem: how do I work out what is the best thing to do now? Any tips anyone?
Simon
Since writing my book on finding and living a higher purpose back in the dark ages of the last decade I have carried out a lot of work helping people get better results. Where I am now is very interesting (at least I think so).
The human brain is way too small to work out very much of anything and therefore a very limited ability to work out what is going to happen in the future.
One of the ways we can drive ourselves nuts is becoming emotionally attached to our predictions of future events.
If we can set out to honestly do our best, based on what we know and a reasonable expectation of the likely outcome of our action we can do no more.
Until you achieve God-like omnipotence you are just going to have to accept the limitations on your clairvoyance.
By the way have you read “Blink”?
COURAGE! If you have done the homework and risk analysis – and you think it is the right way to procede – you have to have the courage to try.
You also have to have the courage to say and deal with a reaction that was totally unexpected or making things worse. It is hard, but most of the time you will be seen in a very positive light for both abilities. It is why also, it is so important to TEST (#4 in the 6 skills of PI – and in small scale to begin) in the Improvement Process.
Developing PI’s (Performance Improvement), that then don’t achieve desired outcomes or fail, is not a failure of PI, it is a learning experience to be gained from, move forward from and test a new intitaitive.
“Blink” certainly offers some interesting thinking and examples.