Cool Down by Steve Prentice

Author:Steve Prentice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2010-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Negotiation, in this scenario, as with all others, must always aim for the win-win. This is a language that all people understand, and when phrased correctly, they will be able to visualize how the results will benefit them.

Alleviating Confusion While Prioritizing or Multitasking

One final demonstration of the power of cooling down comes from the alleviation of confusion and stress when trying to prioritize multiple conflicting activities. This is a situation in which overload happens quickly, and the cost is great. In Chapter 5, in the section entitled, “I like Causing Creativity,” I used the unusual metaphor of clogged sinuses to illustrate the way the human brain processes creative thought. Most important, I pointed out the value of recording your ideas, and in so doing, more creative ideas will rush in to fill the space. Later, in Chapter 8, I will describe how taking time to write things out actually helps us to cope with or even alleviate fears, simply through the act of making them “solid,” that is to say, getting them on paper. This technique has great value for anyone who is struggling with the mental overload of handling more than one task or urgency at a time: Slow down and separate the items on paper. • Dealing with multiple static tasks: Let’s say you have a number of tasks, big and small, to take care of within the same two-hour timeframe. You could choose to grab the first one and run with it, or you could take a moment to write out the urgency and timelines of each, and then take this plan to the stakeholders in order to involve them in the negotiation and resolution of the conflict. Although it is not easy to go back to one or more managers and ask them to help you in reprioritizing these tasks, I suggest it be done for the following reason. Liberating your mind from the pressure and confusion that swirls about inside short-term memory during these scenarios will liberate a greater amount of creative energy and focus, since the brain no longer has to “hold these things in its hands.” If you want a fast path to clear thought, then writing down and assessing conflicting problems, especially in conjunction with the stakeholders, will get you further, faster.

• A similar principle applies with dynamic tasks, such as phone calls, drop-in visitors, and other incoming messages. No-one can handle more than one at a time. Even people who are attracted to high-speed, high-pressure work know there are (or should be) rules in place to ensure nothing gets forgotten. Just ask a day trader. Or an E.R. nurse. Or a journalist. When people come knocking at your door asking for an immediate response, give them the signal that says, “Wait until I can get this thought down on paper (or saved as a file) before I change my train of thought.” This is the crucial act of closure that wraps up every activity. Before you attend to the next incoming

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