| "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who in the land is the | | | | before you can choose another course of action. |
| best Leader of them all?" Although Snow White | | | | 3. Describe specifically the difference between |
| never asked "who in the land is the best Leader | | | | what you expected and what you achieved. You |
| of them all", this famous line is really a snapshot | | | | must be able to differentiate between the two, |
| of our conscious mind searching for answers. | | | | expectations and results. |
| Leaders are always asking the "mirror" what can I | | | | 4. Describe specifically why you believe the results |
| do better? | | | | you achieved do not match your expectations. |
| When we ask the mirror for answers, we are | | | | You must be able to state explicitly why those |
| really asking our inner self to take a look and tell | | | | results were not the desired results. |
| us what we see. This picture reflected back to us | | | | 5. Describe specifically what course of action you |
| is a version of ourselves as we see it in that | | | | can take to achieve the results you desire. This |
| place and time, in others words, in the context of | | | | action might include everything from self |
| the situation, and can be fogged with emotion or | | | | development to reading a book to attending a |
| events in our lives. | | | | seminar. |
| Sometimes what we see is what we believe | | | | 6. Describe specifically the course of action you |
| others think of us. And, if the person has influence | | | | will take in order to achieve your results. |
| in our lives, it can carry a distorted amount of | | | | 7. State explicitly the exact date you will take the |
| weight in what we think about ourselves. | | | | action. |
| Leaders are in search of doing things better for | | | | 8. State explicitly the exact date you will complete |
| their team and themselves. That search includes | | | | the action. |
| the technique of self examination. | | | | 9. Describe specifically how you will know you |
| This is called "Mirroring." In this exercise the | | | | have achieved success. |
| Leader takes a snapshot of themselves and then | | | | 10. Describe specifically what reward you will |
| examines it very closely, like standing in front of a | | | | celebrate with. |
| mirror with a new suit on. You want to make | | | | This exercise and the steps included seem simple. |
| sure that the new suit fits, you look good in it and | | | | And they are. The problem is, we complicate |
| you can wear it again. | | | | them. We skip steps, we decide that one of the |
| "Mirroring" is making sure the suit is "you." | | | | steps is not important or we rationalize away the |
| We start with an area that you have determined | | | | need for the step. |
| through self examination that the results you are | | | | And every one of these steps is dependent on |
| getting do not match your expectations. You | | | | the other one. If you can't describe specifically |
| know that if you continue down this path, those | | | | what you are trying to achieve, you probably |
| additional results will be unacceptable and you wish | | | | can't describe how you will know you have |
| to change the course of action now, before it | | | | achieved success. And if you can't do those, why |
| gets too late. | | | | bother at all. |
| The "mirror" we use is a series of critical thinking | | | | Notice the difference between steps five and six. |
| questions designed to get at the root of what is | | | | In one you describe the course of action you can |
| going on and give you a clear picture devoid of | | | | take and in step six the course of action you will |
| emotional attachments. | | | | take. It's very important to bridge between the |
| Here are the questions: | | | | two. Can and will are two very different words. |
| 1. Describe specifically the expected results. In this | | | | "Mirroring" is really an exercise in thinking designed |
| question we are identifying what you wanted to | | | | to get you on the right track. Used effectively, it |
| happen. | | | | is a tool that can save you all the frustration and |
| 2. Describe specifically what results you achieved. | | | | time thinking of "what should I do next? |
| You must identify what you have accomplished | | | | |