Elasticity and Reframing
There are ever-changing problems and challenges in our lives that impact people in different ways; the degree of impact can be negative if regarded as a problem, or positive if accepted as a challenge. As a coach, we must support both those that see only problems, which can be self-limiting, and those that see them merely as challenges to stretch their capability to accept, adapt and overcome.
We have all certainly been challenged in many ways over the last 18 months or so; some to extremes with the impact of COVID on our lives, our physical and mental health, and that of our families, friends and colleagues, relationships, and general wellbeing.
Social distancing, masks, vaccines, plexiglass, contactless payments, and travel restrictions are now just part of our lives. In the business world of the “New Normal”, there have been significant changes to how people operate and interact; “Remote working”, “Virtual conferences/classes” and “Zoom/Teams meetings” are now just part of our regular lexicon with supply chain issues and staff unavailability due to infections or isolating, just other things we must manage in this V.U.C.A. world.
What I have seen is a variance in an individual’s capability, or willingness, to accept, adapt and overcome; we refer to this as their elasticity, a combination of their resilience, to bounce back and learn from adversity, and their adaptability, to changing according to the situational requirements, thereby exercising their ability to stretch themselves.
As an optimistic, I have to believe that everyone has some elasticity, to cope and grow. However, as a pragmatist I see most can only stretch so far, and if they are restricted by negative views, then that is when situations become self-limiting problems.I hear “I can’t”, “I am not able to”, “This is bad”, “It’s unmanageable” when faced with an issue that they can only view from a negative perspective.
Reframing is a simple technique by which such situations, or thoughts, are challenged and then changed; this consists of identifying and then changing the way these situations or thoughts are viewed.
“Is there another way to look at this situation?”
“I can’t”, challenged becomes “What can I do?”
“I am not able to” challenged becomes “What am I able to do?”
“This is bad”, challenged becomes “What parts are not so bad”
“It’s unmanageable” challenged becomes “What is manageable?”
As coaches we support the individual to move towards the positive and the possible rather than be limited by the negative; reframing something in a context that allows them to recognize and appreciate positive aspects of their situation, increases their elasticity.
Whether individuals learn to reframe problems themselves, to position them as challenges that they are able to overcome, or they need the support of a coach enhancing your elasticity is becoming a highly valuable business skill.
Change, problems, and challenges are inevitable; developing your elasticity, your capability to accept, adapt and overcome is a behavioral choice.
Simon Crockett
Founder and Head Coach
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