Break from the herd with Thought Dynamics
In the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Horse - 2014 - I decided to become a unicorn. Here’s why...
The horse is beautifully dichotomous - it is majestic, strong and free-spirited yet affectionate, playful and sensitive, the latter characteristic central to its basic instinct for survival as a herd animal.
In business, you can be part of the herd - just another choice in a long line of similar products - or you can differentiate yourself so that you become the product of choice in a cluttered and noisy market place.
As principal of a public relations and marketing agency, I was searching for “that special something” that would help make my business zig while the others keep zagging.
Enter the unicorn, aka Thought Dynamics.
As described on the Thought Dynamics website, “Thought Dynamics is a revolutionary approach to success, leadership and business challenges. At the core of the approach is the Thought Dynamics Diagnostic Tool and consulting program, both underpinned by the ESIP (Environment, Structure, Implementation, People) thinking model.
Quite simply, Thought Dynamics is developing the best world’s best brand in coaching and consulting methodology. “Well, you’d want to be part of that, wouldn’t you?”, I said to myself at the Meta Dynamics 1 training in June, just over a month ago.
I was booked to deliver a series of training programs for volunteer-based, community groups and organisations in July. While the training course was already set, I challenged myself to apply the ESIP thinking model to my public relations and marketing system so I could start using the language and practise asking quality questions based on the four areas of E, S, I and P.
Well, the feedback from the training was the best I have ever received and was, indeed, transformative for a number of the participants.
Rather than launching into a situation analysis to determine what the organisation currently does well, what it could do better, how it compares to competitors, what its clients / members think and what opportunities could be capitalised upon, we began the training with each participant reflecting upon the culture of their organisation.
After all, an organisation’s culture - including its vision, mission and values - will, to a large extent, determine whether or not people will want to become a member, volunteer or attend its programs.
“And I thought our purpose was to manage weeds in local bushland reserves”, the president of a land management group exclaimed. “Now I believe our purpose is to work together to create a healthy and thriving environment now and for future generations to enjoy”. This revelation was profound on two levels. Firstly, the participant’s way of thinking had shifted from below the line (Implementation level) to above the line (Environment level), and I clearly observed the power of ESIP in adding so much more value to my training program.
It was then my “unicornification” began.
ESIP is no mythical construct yet it’s power is as undeniable as the unicorn’s.
For me, it is the ease with which ESIP can be applied to existing systems and processes (it is logical and sequential), it is the applicability of ESIP to both individuals and organisations, and it is the adaptability of ESIP to a myriad of situations.
In the five weeks since my first exposure to ESIP, I have applied it to many facets of my personal and professional life including:
- language and conversation
- coaching
- mentoring
- decision-making
- training delivery
- meeting facilitation
- business proposals
- funding submissions
- project management
- team development
- budgeting
- time management
- learning
...and the list goes on.
So, with a pioneering spirit, I feel privileged to be on the ground floor of Thought Dynamics, the champion of the ESIP model. The Thought Dynamics community is amazingly supportive, dedicated to the highest standards and has an open culture of sharing knowledge, experience and resources so that everyone benefits and grows.
Of course, as the law of cause and effect applies, there is no doubting that what you put into Thought Dynamics is exactly what you will get out of it. The choice is yours.
And what an exciting choice it is!
Thought Dynamics IS destined to become the world’s best brand in coaching and consulting methodology.
In time, just as we say, “I Googled it”, I believe we will be saying “I ESIPd it!”.
