See or Observe?
Answer this question; which one fits you best?
Do you watch?
Do you see?
Do you observe?
Do you look?
The power of words in this context is essential. Do they all seem the same?
Grammatically, let’s look at the words in detail:
Observe is to notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail
Watch is (obsolete intransitive) to be awake
See is to perceive through the eyes
Look is to apply the ability to see
What did you answer from the four options? Watch, See, Observe or Look?
If you can understand how you currently view things, you can move towards connecting, understanding and improving responses. However, with all self-growth, the development of your honesty is a requirement. Convincing yourself that you observe every detail with every conversation and interaction is a vast and inaccurate statement. We have our internal dialogue to deal with and bias; what do we choose to see as well?
Is there a difference between Internal and external observation?
We use our sight organs every day, YET as with listening or hearing, and we opt out of the detail, the connection, the opportunity easily, and distractions are a vital part of this. At RLC Global, we coach people on Listen Like Your Life Depends On. An RLC technique focuses on tonality, the person speaking without worrying, assuming, rushing ahead with internal dialogue, answering, and talking over. For many, Listening Like Your Life Depends On It is a difficult task, as we want to be involved, have a point of view, have our say, and share our thoughts without actually listening to the other person. With Dollar Dream Club, the ability to Observe Like Your Life Depends On It is a skill achieved through daily practice.
Think back to a conversation 24 hours ago (virtual or face-to-face)
What was the person wearing? In detail?
What was the person's hairstyle? Had it changed?
What was the person wearing around their neck?
What colour socks were they wearing?
Describe where they were. Describe the room /area in detail.
How many others did you observe?
How many times did the person touch their face? Flick their hair? Move their hands?
Can you be 100% positive you have every detail? Did you the observer or see what you wanted to see? Look and construct the rest. Watch the person without seeing them as your internal dialogue was much louder and in your vision.
Okay, let's have some more fun for observation rather than seeing.
Let’s see how observant you are?! Quick test
Here we go!
On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?
How many states are there in the USA? (Don't laugh, some people don't know)
In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
What six colours are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them?
When you walk, does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? (Don't you dare get up to see!)
How many matches are in a standard pack?
On the United States flag, is the top stripe red or white?
What is the lowest number on the FM dial?
Which way does the water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?
Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?
12. On which side of a women's blouse are the buttons
13. Which way do fans rotate?
14. How many sides does a stop sign have?
15. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?
16. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?
17. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?
18. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?
19. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?
20. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?
21. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?
22. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip
23. Does a merry-go-round turn counter- or clockwise?
Answers are at the bottom -scroll down ↧
Lots of fun questions and ultimately they do not define you as a master observer, yet the point is made. That our minds construct through probability what we think we are seeing. NOT OBSERVING. Observation takes practice, patience, and most of all, it is time-consuming.
Having an interest in etymology and understanding other cultures allows us to explore how seeing and observing are different. Many American Indian languages are built not from the consonants and vowels of English but through observations. The Indigenous Indians wouldn't say they can see it's snowing. They would observe what was happening instead- the ground was changing colour, the skies had got darker, the animals had started to move, and it's a fascinating way to begin to describe what you're observing. Creating an observation technique takes practice, and it's very moving when you start doing it, recognising what has been missed and having a new set of eyes. Enjoy your observations. Do share them as you progress.
What does this mean to you in business?
If we can distinguish what we see and observe, we will instantly alter how we react and respond. The reality in business is that we choose to see what WE want and expect from others from our perspective. This instant internal bias means we can miss opportunities and connections with others.
Observing is about time, patience, slowing down, heightened awareness, depth to understand, being curious, exploitation and finding out more. A great activity to do if you want to develop and hone your observation skills is perceptual positioning.
Try this straightforward and effective way to reframe and build a perception in ANY situation.
Creating better awareness of other perspectives.
Technique to apply Perceptual Positioning
A perceptual position is a technique that allows us to develop an awareness of somebody's perspective - as in seeing and observing from someone else’s shoes. Put ourselves (ultimately our thinking ), see what they see, hear what they hear, and feel what they feel.
Perceptual positions help us get a much better impression of the client’s ‘reality’.
This is because when we imagine sitting or standing as someone else, in their posture, speaking with their voice, we pick up much information about what they’re thinking and feeling. The scientific explanation is that adopting the other person’s Position triggers our mirror neurons, enabling us to understand others better than otherwise.
This is an NLP technique; it allows us to improve our interpersonal results by seeing (and hearing and feeling) things from someone else’s perspective.
The four perceptual positions.
We can adopt four positions to understand another’s point of view entirely. These positions fall under different types :
SELF 1st Position, we see things from our point of view.
PRO 2nd position, we see things from the positive, pro perspective and point of view.
AGAINST 3rd Position, we see things from a negative, against perspective and point of view
NEUTRAL 4th Position, we see as an independent observer and can watch the interaction between positions 1 and 2 and 3. We see things from an outside point of view.
Now the skill to build is to put yourself into each Position truly. The quickest is to create seats to move into the physical. Connecting with the imagination and visualisation is powerful and can completely change our perspective and thinking.
Quick actions, and eventually, you can do this in your head.
Get four chairs in a circle.
Each chair is allocated a role, i.e. 1. Your view, self-perspective, 2. The person for/positive 3. The person against/negative perspective 4. The neutral observer perspective.
Now for the situation you are dealing with
Move to each chair and experience the world as it is.
For example, Chair 1 What is your perspective? How do you feel? Why do you feel and think that way? What is it you want to do?
Now move to Chair 2, do the same, and fully immerse yourself in the new perspective. Feel, hear, think, understand.
Do this for each chair.
By absorbing each perspective, you will open your mind to new opportunities, different thinking. Of course, this process takes time to hone, yet it is genuinely transformational when you do. It can radically change how people manage, connect, build better relationships, understand more and get better results. Observing more takes time and patience, yet it reaps many rewards. What can you see and observe?
Research and References
https://www.nlp-techniques.org/what-is-nlp/perceptual-positions/
Adapted from one of our sister sites www.dollardreamcub.com.If you're reading this and have not joined Dollar Dream Club for $1 (or your currency equivalent), you get 26 weeks of support, guidance to self-mastery- join us and find out more. www.dollardreamclub.com
The answers if you want
Answers RLC Blog See or Observe?
1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom? BOTTOM
2. How many states are there in the USA? (Don’t laugh, some people don’t know) 50
3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty’s torch? RIGHT
4. What six colours are on the classic Campbell’s soup label? BLUE, RED, WHITE, YELLOW, BLACK &GOLD
5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don’t have letters by them? 1, 0
6. When you walk, does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? RIGHT
7. How many matches are in a standard pack? 20
8. On the United States flag, is the top stripe red or white? RED
9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial? 88
10. Which way does the water go down the drain, counter or clockwise? CLOCKWISE (NORTH OF THE EQUATOR)
11. Which way does a “no smoking” sign’s slash run? TOWARDS BOTTOM RIGHT
12. On which side of a women’s blouse are the buttons? LEFT
13. Which way do fans rotate? CLOCKWISE AS YOU LOOK AT IT
14 How many sides does a stop sign have? 8
15. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side? LEFT
16 How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel? 5
17. How many sides are there on a standard pencil? 6
18. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who’s missing? BASHFUL
19. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package? 8
20. On which playing card is the card maker’s trademark? ACE OF SPADES
21. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats? LEFT
22. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip? 3
23. Does a merry-go-round turn counter- or clockwise? COUNTER
