Power Up Your Mind: Learn faster, work smarter

Use this simple chart to work on some of your own business issues. I have included one

example to get you going:

Hothousing

You have probably heard the expression “a hothouse of ideas.” It

conjures up the image of a person or team brimming with creative

concepts. But, what is it about a hothouse that could usefully be

applied to the business situation?

Gardeners use hothouses for many things, including:

Growing tender plants from seeds.

Accelerating the growth of plants.

As a test bed for new species.

Controlling the environment of a particular plant.

Protecting plants from the harsh climate outside.

You can see how all of these techniques transfer readily to the busi-

ness environment. Good ideas need to be nurtured. However, what

is less well known is what gardeners say to their plants while they

are being nurtured. Even Prince Charles is said to talk to his favorite

plants.

In a business, in contrast, what you say is essential. Sneering,

for example, one of my seven serious sins on page 161, is a disas-

trous way to treat people. To create an effective hothousing environ-

ment, you need to develop a language that rewards the tentative,

encourages the sharing of ideas, promotes hunches, values insights,

and gives constructive feedback at appropriate moments.

Comments such as the following are obviously helpful:

Harnessing Your Creativity 175

Issue or problem

Working too many hours

Single-loop solution

Spend less time with family

Etc.

Double-loop solution

Be much clearer about

priorities and do less

business entertaining