Changing your thinking is hard.
We build up patterns based on previous experiences and over time they become a thinking habit.
These habits are automatic and form a default way of thinking.
These default ways of thinking are quick and efficient.
They also feel safe and comfortable.
And they work most of the time.
However when the situation changes and/or we need to create a new change (e.g. an idea, solution or opportunity) we need to escape these existing patterns and create new ones.
In short, we have to switch our thinking. Or what I call Switch Thinking.
Here is the good news.
We are already switching our thinking without probably realising it.
Consider these examples;
We need to think of the short term and then switch to the long term.
We can focus on the details and switch to the big picture.
We can ask an expert question then switch and ask a naive one.
We can use analysis then switch to our intuition.
We can look at a part of a situation (or problem) then switch to view the entire situation.
Notice in all of these cases we can switch back and forth between the two different types of thinking.
In a changing world being able to switch your thinking is your ideal adaptive thinking strategy.
It stops you being rigid and getting stuck.
Switch Thinking builds on these experiences and offers a semi-structured way to call upon this skill – when you most need it.
For example;
Want to develop a new idea?
Switch your perspective to a clown (for example).
How might a clown look at this problem? Can you add more colour, music, fun or engagement?
notice how quickly you can do this.
Switch Thinking is a system which consists of 6 switches, a canvas, a series of prompts and a switch and connect process.
It’s easy, simple and fast.