I think you don't fit the picture!

"I think you don't fit the picture."

These sentences might seem innocent, but when they come from someone who makes decisions, they can have far-reaching consequences. But how do you know what you think? That is the core of what we will explore, specifically aimed at how we can avoid communication pitfalls and have more impact on conversations in our next NLP Practitioner training.

The difference between thinking and knowing

To start, thinking is a process where we process information and experiences to form opinions, ideas and hypotheses. It is subjective and often influenced by our emotions, prejudices and previous experiences. Knowing, on the other hand, is about facts, information and experiences that we have verified or accepted as true. It is more objective and independent of our personal feelings.

In the context of systems thinking, where we look at the connection between different elements within a system, it is crucial to understand the difference between thinking and knowing. Systems thinking encourages us to look beyond superficial judgements and to investigate the underlying patterns and relationships that lead to our perceptions and decisions.

The pitfalls of "I think" in communication

Communication is a complex system in itself. When someone says, "I think you don't fit the picture," that person uses a subjective thought to communicate an objective decision. This can lead to confusion, misinterpretation and even damage to relationships, because it opens the door to personal bias and uncertainty. It is a classic example of a communication pitfall where thinking is not clearly separated from knowing.

How do you know what you think?

The essence of our upcoming NLP Practitioner training focuses on this exact issue. NLP, or neuro-linguistic programming, offers tools and techniques to understand and guide our own thought processes and those of others. It helps us to recognise the pitfalls in our communication, both in ourselves and in others, and offers strategies to overcome them.

A key aspect is developing an awareness of our own thought processes and the difference between what we think and what we know. This awareness allows us to filter our communication through a lens of objectivity and empathy, which means we can convey our messages more clearly and with more impact.

Recognising pitfalls and mastering conversations

The power of positive intention is another important theme in NLP. By focusing on what we want to achieve in our communication, instead of what we want to avoid, we can take control of our conversations and steer them in a direction that is constructive and positive. Recognising communication pitfalls in ourselves and others is the first step; the next step is actively applying NLP techniques to bypass these pitfalls and achieve our communication goals.

Thinking and knowing are two sides of the same coin in the context of systems thinking and communication. By understanding the difference between these two and recognising the pitfalls in our communication, we can become more effective, empathetic and impactful conversation partners.

Our NLP Practitioner training is designed to teach you exactly that: how you can avoid pitfalls in communication and have more impact on your conversations.

By Karl Mortier