How to Coach Yourself and Others Techniques For Coaching | Page 420

Indeed, more than a few patterns that we live our lives by turn out to
seriously mislead us.
Stereotyping is the most obvious
manifestation of this phenomenon,
causing us to jump to conclusions. But
our conclusions are not always true.
In our hurry to make sense of the
world, we prematurely "fill in the
blanks," trading in reality for
reactivity.
The past, instead of serving us,
becomes our ruler.
Patterns are neither good nor bad.
They're simply the raw material from
which we interpret our world.
Weathermen make their living
interpreting patterns. So do stock
market analysts, futurists, and astrologers. All of them infer a future
based on past trends.
Sometimes, however, they misinterpret the clues. Or even more
insidiously, cannot detect new patterns inconsistent with their present
worldview.
If you want to be more creative, start making a commitment to look for,
learn from, and challenge existing patterns. It will help you see the
world (and all your problems) in wonderful, new ways -- the fertile
ground from which all innovation springs.
AN EXERCISE FOR YOU:
1. What patterns or trends in G&