Remembering to Focus: The Power of Intention

I was just reminded of something quite power (and useful) today.

I was reminded that the more you search for something—the better chance that you will find it. Sounds good, right? It really seems to make sense, as it seems like such a simple, positive and useful thing—depending on what you want to apply it to.

It can be quite useful in conducting quantifiable research:
I’m presently helping to set the groundwork for a focus group in my consulting work. What guides the data has to do with the questions you ask—think about that…

A study can become subjective really quickly, based on the questions you ask, and not only that, what if the question contains biases or assumptions?

For instance, consider the subtle difference between these two questions:

Why is it important for you to use your Learning Management System?

Is it important for you to use your Learning Management System? Why or why not?

In it’s first form, we are fishing or ‘leading’ the person being asked the question. We make an assumption that the Learning Management System is already deemed important to the person being questioned. The second question makes no assumptions, and considers the possibility that it is too closed a question. What is the person questioned simply be answered with a yes or no? Those kinds of questions can be valuable, but being specific, and making sure there is enough depth to the answers can be quite valuable too.

Again, the first question is a ‘leading’ question, and essentially is puts the person answering the question in a place that often leads them to answering it in a certain way (well… not always, as they might take a chance and challenge the question itself!)

Anyway, useful data implies an impartial approach, meaning you’re not leading someone to anything; you just want to get some raw data—that raw data leads to information and lets get really granular here: information and data are not the same thing. Useful data is a pattern that paints a picture or tells a story—it gives you something you can act on, or show to someone, especially when you’re trying to affect change.

Infographics and/or data visualization are at the core of the stories mentioned above. It is indeed true that you will always need to decide how many and exactly what questions to ask. Bias is always a possibility, as even good questions may mean others had to be left out. How many questions you ask, what questions you leave out, and how you ask the questions you DO choose are all very important.

That which you look for, you will always find.

We see through the colored glasses of our own experiences. To some degree we must acknowledge our own shortcomings as human beings: we’re always going to impart our own subjective viewpoint. Keeping that in mind as we attempt to focus on hard data is a useful reminder!

NOW, if we can only create meaning from the data… so that it may cause our stakeholders, managers, clients, etc. to act in a way that considers what’s best for everyone.

Stepping back a few steps…

This whole “that-which-you-look-for, you-will-always-find” approach can pop up all kinds of places in many personal and professional environments ways.

In speaking of personal experience, I have fallen into many traps. I just plain expect people to act a certain way after a while—and they never fail me!

ZING! The subjectivity virus just zapped me!

Ok, subjectivity is what makes us who we are, and I get that. It can be a good thing. Heck, I could make this post really long just by talking about the creative process. But wait… even the creative process lends to being open to anything and everything (at least initially, before you start narrowing down to a more focused approach design).

My personal life has taken a major hit over the last 5-7 years. I focus on the annoyance and frustration of people being a certain way—and not being the way I might want or expect.

What’s THAT about?

OIY!

Anyway, talking about all the layers I have been peeling back, and the very real feelings of vulnerability it creates is yet another topic for another post—LATER!

Validate your feelings, focus on what you want, and look for THAT in the people around you—regardless of whether they are people you have known for a long time that were previously annoying you, or if they are new people in your life. Regardless of the age of their friendship, shifting the focus (and not continuing to hunt for what annoys you) is a much more productive approach…

I guarantee it.

The final thought on this example is: if you continue to focus on the good, but the folks around you still aren’t ‘syncing with your plan,’ or fitting into your life, then perhaps it is the time where you can most ‘objectively’ let them go­—and you can do it with no hard feelings, and no ill-will.

I LOVE IT!

More soon-

m