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Getting The 'Write' Results

Sometimes, a simple technique can prove more useful to Insight teams than more complex or long-winded approaches. One such technique involves learning to write down your goals as soon as you’ve set them. This little trick can be very powerful – because your sub-conscious brain will take ownership of what you’ve written and will start working on it in the background.

You may be aware of a number of network marketing operations (modern day versions of pyramid-selling operations) that get everyone to write down their dreams or goals and then stick them on the fridge, along with pictures etc.
 
Similarly, in terms of management training, there is already an accepted practice that involves getting everyone to write down what they are going to do differently as a result of what they’ve learnt.
 
Put it down!
Writing something down suggests an active commitment – which in turn means that you are more likely to carry out your aim. Various research studies have shown that if people write down an objective, they are much more likely to see it through than if they don’t write it down.
 
This simple fact could have far-reaching implications. For instance, a survey by the National Health Service showed that some seven million medical appointments are missed each year. Interestingly, when appointments are made, it’s the receptionist who usually writes down the details. If the patient was asked to do this instead, there might be a significant downturn in the number of missed appointments.
 
Turn words into deeds
The same general principle applies to insight. We often have debriefs followed by a discussion, and the natural tendency is for the insight leader to write up the agreed actions (and their owners) and then circulate the document. Perhaps it would be more effective to get the stakeholders to write them down themselves. For instance, they could write their own action points on a flip chart. This information can be recorded and circulated afterwards.
 
Likewise, within a workshop situation, there is a natural tendency for the facilitator to capture any proposed actions and their owners on a flip chart. However, these actions would be more likely to take place if the owners could be persuaded to get up and write them down themselves.
 
So, whenever you think about your individual and team goals, make sure that you write them down as well! Hopefully, your words could then turn into actions…
 
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