So I recently came across this quote from Winston Churchill …
Of course, it’s a classic him.
Smart, political with a cheeky bastard cherry on the top.
When I showed it to a mate, he said I could learn from Churchill’s advice because when I don’t like someone, I’m not just likely to tell them to go to hell, I’ll offer to drive them there.
To be honest, I was a bit put-out by this.
I know I can be a bit of a bull in a China shop at times, but I don’t think I’m THAT bad. At least not these days.
Anyway, a few minutes later, the same friend sent me this …
… along with a note that said:
“This is why you don’t need tact”.
Even though you could argue this comment was even ruder, I found this response much more acceptable – and of course the reason for that is because he’d just reframed my “talent” [sarcasm] in a way that not only superseded my weakness [tact] but meant I didn’t have to put myself out to improve myself because what I could do, was better.
Sort-of.
Yes, I know that is a shit attitude to have – let alone admit – but we all do it.
Whether it’s reframing our lack of hair as a sign of raw masculinity or saying overweight people have a better sense of humour, it’s not just planners who have an ability to reframe things, so it’s worth remembering there will always be someone who can offer a valid counter argument so stop worrying about whether your views or ideas could alienate people and embrace what you believe because polarisation means you’ve said something that has caused people to think, which is way better than spouting stuff that no one thinks is worth even commenting on.
Which, now I come to think about it, is quite a good example of reframing right there.