TO LEARN more about Gilmore’ s latest book and the importance of perception and thoughtful observation, click here.
P: One of the challenges of looking is seeing the big picture. Can you share a few practical ways on how to develop skills to look at the broader picture? G: This calls for binoculars looking. The“ way” of looking is to just use the six lenses. In this case: don binoculars, survey and scan, and see the forest not just the trees. For this looking glass, as with the other five, I include examples and exercises in LOOK to practice each observational skill.
Stop to look. Look just to look. And listen to what you see: What are your observations telling you? Ultimately, looking is the habit of simply paying attention to the scenes of life in which one is situated.
P: It’ s often said“ we see what we want to see.” How come our own eyes sometimes deceive us from the truth? G: This phenomenon is what psychologists call confirmation bias— and overcoming this tendency, which we all have, is the primary benefit to be gained from using bifocals looking. Bifocal looking is performed by pairing two opposing viewpoints, and then comparing and contrasting the two different views. I write in LOOK about how no car manufacturer has ever designed a car for a woman— for there is no place to put a purse! Subconsciously, automobile designers only see men getting in cars. Likewise, no one has ever designed a car for a dog: designers assume only humans get in cars. By pairing men / women and human / dog via bifocals looking, one could derive the idea of a purse compartment( not just an antiquated“ glove” compartment), or of a pet-ramp( not just peopledoors).
P: What are the dangers and advantages of looking at things with a rose-colored glass? G:“ Rose-colored” usually has a negative connotation. But with rose-colored glasses looking, the notion is to look at the very term with rose-colored glasses! This is the skill of looking past any flaws and only seeing the potential in any situation. It’ s looking at things better than they actually are. I think there is little danger in looking this way. Far from it, we need much more rose-colored looking. It’ s rose-colored thinking that can present real dangers. Note: I am deliberately positioning looking as a pre-cognitive skill. Look, and then think.
P: Why is it sometimes difficult to spot and scrutinize details, especially when looking at worst-case scenarios? G: This is a great question. In a recent Looking Excursion— where I go out and about with a client to make observations— a participant commented that she was only seeing the negative, the worst in any situation. She had an especially hard time using rose-colored looking. But by consciously and deliberately using microscope looking, by looking at all the details— not just the immediate elements that struck her— did she then see better features? It made me think that all microscopic looking eventually reveals the beautiful. It’ s certainly true in nature. And I suspect it’ s true of constructed environments as well. n
Personal Side Notes
The book I’ m currently reading is: Now I Sit Me Down by Witold Rybczynski, about the history of the chair.
Apps I’ m often using: None. I don’ t use any digital“ apps.”
The words of wisdom I live by: are found in the book of Galatians—“ for freedom Christ has set us free.”
I recharge creatively by: watching Better Call Saul.
I’ d love to share a coffee chat with an inspiring
Howard Schultz Ben Stein leader like: Over coffee? Howard Schultz. Over a beer: Ben Stein.
The hotel amenity I can’ t live without is: a wake-up call!
March / April 2017 ■ PULSE 27