Reframing

[MagicBalls]

I am increasingly becoming aware of the importance of reframing. REFRAME, REFRAME, REFRAME! Always! Isn't that essentially what philosophers do when they argue? And everything stems from philosophy. I haven't read the dallaspua.com recommended book on reframing, but I did order it and it should be arriving soon. I did, however, read an excellent book by a Harvard psychologist that deals with this from a fresh and unique perspective. It's called _Mindfulness_ by Ellen Langer. As I read it, the word "framing" slowly came to my mind, even though it's never actually mentioned in the book! The book deals with how we fit things into categories by just accepting the way these things have been defined to us and taking that definition for granted, and how we can learn to see things in a different way and apply them to a different purpose by putting them in a different context. Isn't that basically the definition of reframing?

Lawyers and politicians, that's their job, day and night, to reframe. I am seeing the importance of this at work. I have a coworker that thinks he's everyone's boss, and it's so easy to knock him down with a few words just by reframing things. My experience and knowledge greatly surpass his, but I don't go around trying to prove things and put on a show like he does... I don't need to. However, I do need to keep him in his place, otherwise other people are going to get drawn into his frame and his illusion will become my reality. My boss is very good at reframing as well, she always spins things to her benefit.

Reframing is an art form. You really have to look at a persons mindset and underlying assumptions about a situation and completely pull the rug from under them by attacking these assumptions in quick, subtle jabs and thrusts while defining your own frame. They can never know what you are doing or how, and if you can execute so that these things are barely below the subconscious, they won't know how to fight back.

Never let your opponent know your strengths and weaknesses and come at them with your secret weapons when they least expect it from the place where they least expect it. That some Zun Tsu right there, bro. People's strengths are also their weaknesses. It's the qualities that define a person's character that makes them who they are: it makes them succeed but it can also destroy them. With some good Judo moves, you can speed the process along while minimizing your apparent involvement. Do it Karl Rove style - go after their strengths and turn them inside out.