Creativity in Networking

Laura Wikinson is an Olympic Diver.  Prior to her dive in the 2000 Olympics she broke her foot and could not practice the week before the games.  Her coach had her visualize the dive.  She went on to win the gold medal.

As we can see from the above example, visualization is a powerful tool usually reserved for lofty goals.  However, visualization is also the very technique you need to meet new people.  It can dramatically increase your effectiveness and performance in networking. 

Prior to entering a networking situation vividly visualize what is going to happen.  Visualize what will happen in color and in movement.  Do this with your eyes closed.  Picture yourself successfully meeting people with positive outcomes.  Picture yourself saying the right words and balancing the conversation about 50/50 listening and speaking.  Picture yourself having just the right touch of humor and picture yourself finding a creative way to stand out.  Picture yourself easily remembering names. 

Perform this visualization with emotion and perform it several times prior to networking.  During your visualization bring your thumb, index and middle finger of your non-dominant hand together.  This is a trigger technique.  Bringing these fingers together within the networking environment will remind you of your visualization.  Vividness and detail are key to effective visualization.  The brain cannot distinguish between what is real and what is vividly imagined.  Scientists have found that visualization actually induces new patterns within the brain.

As I will be writing this column on creativity in networking, I would appreciate feedback on how visualization works for you.  I would also very much appreciate receiving your creative ideas for networking.

Harvey Mathason is the President of TBD Enterprises, “Training by Design”.
Harvey  presents workshops in creativity to schools, businesses, and organizations and teaches creativity privately
Phone Number: (215) 752-5117
Email: HMathson@aol.com
Website : trainingbydesign4u.com
 

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