How to make the impossible, possible
Here is an interesting fact: People will only attempt what they think is possible.
Therefore, a person's results are constrained by the limits of their thoughts.
Your level of achievement is shaped by your dominant thoughts.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
You've got to think high, to rise.
You've got to think well of yourself, before you can ever win a prize.
Top prizes don't always go to the smartest woman or man,
But sooner or later, the ones that win, are those who think they can.
Here is the rule to remember:
Thoughts affect feelings, feelings affect actions and actions create results.
The principle idea that "thought affects the final outcome" has been well-documented, and is a part of our everyday, common experience.
The idea that "thought affects final outcome" is often called, "the self-fulfilling prophecy" and is the principle that explains the placebo effect.
The placebo effect is when patients are prescribed an inert agent, but they are told and they believe, that they are receiving a therapeutic agent; then, to the degree to which they believe the agent will help, their reported results are consistent with that belief.
The placebo effect has been measured in thousands of medical experiments, and many doctors admit to regularly prescribing placebos.
Leaders can act as Placebo Agents, thus making the "impossible", possible.
One of your roles as a leader, is to change the final result, by affecting the thoughts of others.
Leaders affect the minds of their followers, in a similar way to how a placebo, affects the minds of patients. They affect minds, by introducing new ideas and visions of a better future. These new ideas (thoughts), change the way that people process information and therefore how they react to their environment.
Leaders, influence the minds of followers, in order to produce positive beliefs, systems and thus change actions, that change results.
If a leader can change the actions of the majority, then the leader can change the course of progress.
Why not give it a try?
self-fulfilling prophecy
In business leadership, the self-fulfilling prophecy is a principle that starts with a belief about a future result. The belief shapes thoughts and feelings, guides behaviour that matches the belief, brings about the expected outcome, and then confirms the belief. If any step is missing, the prophecy does not work.
CG4D Definition
Context: Business leadership
Genus: Principle
- Starts with a definite belief or expectation about a future result
- Belief changes the thinker’s feelings and view of events
- Shifted mindset drives actions that align with the belief
- These actions create the predicted outcome, which confirms the belief
Article Summary
Your mind sets the ceiling on your success; when you decide you can win, feelings and actions line up, and results change, so leaders who plant bold, positive thoughts in their teams act like a living placebo that turns the impossible into the possible.