I was running a session this week where the
classic debate took place. As it
gathered pace, people focused upon some of the facts that are holding them back
from achieving their true potential as a team.
I heard the classic comment 4 or 5 times
from different tables around the room.
“Ah, but is that perception or the reality?”
I can understand this question in the
context. We were focusing upon how
perceptions don’t always match the reality and can therefore lead to communication
difficulties, inappropriate behaviour and misunderstandings.
The truth is, we always behave according to
our perception of the reality so some would say the question doesn’t
matter. Whatever the reality is, it’s
the perception of it that would need to change in order to drive a change in
behaviour. To do that we can either look
at the same facts from a different angle (see Blog number 1 for the brain as a
protractor) or we can change the facts in order to drive a different base point
for the perception to form.
Either way; to shift behaviour we must
shift perception. As it’s behaviour that
ultimately drives the reality, and perception drives behaviour, it’s the perception that therefore shapes that
reality.
So maybe we should ask ourselves a better
question.
Rather than 'is that perception or reality?'; perhaps the question should be – “how is my perception shaping that reality?”
