Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Business Matters - Part 6 - Psychology

Times are tough now. You read the paper or see the news and it's not happy, cheering news. It's difficult whatever business you are in - or if you are not in a business... so is there anything we can do?

You may or may not be aware that I did a masters degree in Psychology here in the US. It was specifically in health psychology but a lot of standard psychology is covered too.

So today, I thought I'd talk a little about solution focused brief therapy and how we can use it in these times when the economy is difficult. No, this isn't a therapy session - just a different way to look at things....

Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT) focuses on what we want to achieve rather than the problem. It does not focus on the past but on the present and future. And one of the key phrases from the therapy that I always remember is that "you get more of what you focus on" - so if you focus on bad times and not getting sales etc etc, you get more of that. Whereas if you focus on the things that are going well, your new designs, how you sold one piece last week that you had had for ages, then you get more of that.

It sounds very simple - and it is. SFBT is just that. Don't dwell on the problem, focus on what you want to acheive. You can use it in every day life and I frequently pass on the "you get more of what you focus on" and it really makes a difference. It doesn't matter what the "problem" is - as you don't focus on that - you focus on the solution.

So if business is slow right now - look at the good things that are going on instead. Focus on those, find those - and you'll get more! Or if something else isn't going well in your life - focus on what is going well instead.

Try it today - and see what a difference it makes! And then let us know......

3 comments:

Nicola said...

Very uplifting article & absolutely right :) I belive the same thing but badge it under "eternal optimism" & "karma happens"
Nic xx

Ruth said...

Thanks Nic. Good to hear from you. Doesn't matter what you call it - it helps!

Fabyenne said...

Totally agree with you there! I believe it too, though sometimes I have to kick myself in the butt to stop dwelling on the negative, but it does work! Nice useful article Ruth, thanks for the reminder!!! :)