Chopping off John's Belief
Several years ago, I was working with a dot com. I found myself with all the 20 odd employees crammed into the small boardroom. Some people were sitting on the floor, others on the windowsill, some were standing. The conversation, and goal of the meeting, was to discuss the new direction for the company. The company was not making enough money, and it was felt we needed to change the focus of the business.The topic of conversation came around to customer beliefs. Specifically, how possible it would be to change the ideas and beliefs of our existing and new customers.
The topic was just broached, when John opens up with, "Beliefs are hard to change."
Now I was not able to let that statement infect the rest of the company. If that was left unchallenged, changing the company focus would have been even more of a challenge than it already was. So I stand and directly confronted the statement. "No John, I don't think that at all. I think it's very easy to change someone's belief." I pause, and just before he was able to make a retort, I continue, "And I can prove it to you."
John pauses and then motions for me to continue. "You see," I say, "All I have to do is chop off your right arm." The shock on his face, and the faces of some of the other people in the room is obvious. I allow that look to continue for a time. "If I do that, then a whole bunch of your beliefs need to change. Belief about yourself, about what you are capable of doing, about how you look, about how others will think of you. Many different beliefs will change in an instant."
John nods, "Yeah, you're right." he says in a dreamy voice.
"Now," I continue, "The interesting thing is, even without chopping off your arm, I've changed your beliefs about your beliefs." Emphasising the word 'about'.
John, and most of the room, take a deep breath as they realise the ramifications of what I've just said. Change, any change, is easy once you know how to do it effectively and systematically.
Till next time,
-- Michael.