behavioural flexibility

The Secret to Behavioural Flexibility

A large proportion of issues arise from a lack of flexibility in behaviour, simply because human beings love routine and certainty. So to contemplate doing something in a different way requires a flex of the muscle, which puts people out and leaves them in a position of discomfort. 

In the years that I migrated from being a banker to re-inventing myself as a Neuro-Linguistic Programming Trainer, I have observed many such phenomena in my clients.

Most problems I observed, emerged from a lack of behavioural flexibility. So what is the secret to this trap that seems to hook the better of us? It is our ability to expand boundaries in our mind. 

The smaller the box that we create called LIFE, the more trouble we encounter. So how do we move on to a larger box and expand boundaries in our mind to improve behavioural flexibility?
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Here are some tips; 

• The lines we draw in the sand are defined by our beliefs and values. If we have beliefs that limit us “I am not good enough” this is often teamed up with a negative emotion like fear.  When we eradicate negative emotions, limiting beliefs are removed too and our values get re-prioritised. We now look for purpose when before, it was just making the next pay check.  Our behaviour changes in tandem as we seek new things in life. One thing leads to another and we are able to accept more, compromise with others, soften our stance in life, all of which impact our ability to exercise higher behavioural flexibility. 

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• To up-skill mindset is another way of improving behavioural flexibility. The first step as mentioned above is attending to the past. Following on, we create the future. What is the benefit of doing this? It focuses us on living with a positive mindset and with this, to improve productivity. When people attend a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) course for instance, they learn self- management tools. This takes them out of the old mindset to a new one, which affords compromise, understanding another’s perspective and extending one’s own behavioural flexibility. 

 

• Operating from success beliefs and philosophies is also extremely helpful. If you believe for instance that “there is no such thing as failure, only feedback” that makes you solidify your positive mindset by learning from that experience.  This is the start of extending behavioural flexibility and the first step to up-skill mindset. Another belief shared in an NLP course is that people have all the resources they need. They are doing the best at the time with their choice of behaviour. In understanding and applying these beliefs to daily life, you will find that your response begins to extend to way beyond how you operated before. ​

Without realising, you could wake up one day and notice that your repertoire of skills has extended. This is what happens when you expand boundaries. A heightening of behavioural flexibility happens and most of the time, you only realise it because someone in your circle of influence has observed it.

You may be alerted to this new way of operating from a close friend’s comment “Hey Jo you don’t snap at that guy anymore. You seem to be able to humour his behaviour” 

This is a typical outcome of people who attend an NLP course and work through to eradicate negative emotions and up-skill mindset. Since all work is carried out through the five senses via the unconscious mind, change happens under the radar.
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It is only when a person receives feedback, are they aware of a new way of being. They then begin to improve productivity which eventually leads to an acceleration of amazing results. 

In NLP, curiosity is also a primary mindset that is encouraged. “How is Jo doing what he is doing?” is the question in my mind rather than making a judgment that “Jo is mad” This allows me to think of stepping into Jo’s shoes to perhaps access an insight into what Jo’s motivation is.

A total migration from thinking the same old same old from an attitude that hails from the past and does not work in today’s world anymore. In order to exercise behavioural flexibility, one has to tip the water out of the mug to refresh with new water. 

These are some benefits that you will acquire when you up-skill mindset, to operate from a positive mindset. I guarantee once this transition occurs, you will be sought after by companies and could even possibly become an entrepreneur, if that is on your dream list.

Everything is possible as you have the knowhow by this time, to improve productivity and make things happen. Everyone wants you and you connect with ease, not only to enjoy life but to reap the benefits from it too. ​