Opening The Door to New Possibilities

Trish Tonaj
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Engage in Conversations that Encourage “YES”

In recent months, I have found myself in conversations with business leaders about the concept of hearing “Yes.” There seems to be an increased number of people regardless of industry that are in discussions that include “no, no thank you,” “not right now,” or “maybe.”

Often, it is not related to a sale but rather collaborating on an idea or initiative that would be win-win for both parties. Based on the number of “no’s” we hear in a day, week or month, we begin to forget one fundamental concept…We forget to ask!

Sometimes when we ask for help or share an idea we will most often hear “YES.”

It is a great connector!

Hearing yes, fuels our creativity and encourages outside the box thinking.

It opens the door to new possibilities!

I believe, when we hear yes, it actually engages the happiness hormones that creates positive energy and just plain makes us feel good.

There are four hormones that contribute to happiness or fulfillment and they are: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins. All of these are naturally created in the body and are engaged when we feel happy, satisfied or appreciated. They work in tandem with one another and are produced when we exercise, eat healthy and I believe hear… “yes.”

A positive experience that contributes to our wellbeing.

We engage in conversations with the intention of collaborating and creating positive connections that in one form or another include the connector – yes.

Isn’t almost every conversation part of that process?

Yes, starts a whole new conversation that leads not only to collaboration but mentorship.  It is how we learn from one another and is a powerful tool that encourages future connections.

Here are a few things to consider the next time you meet with a colleague or friend to create opportunities for hearing yes:

  1. Listen to the story
  2. Be authentic when stating your point of view
  3. Identify an opportunity and discuss solutions
  4. Create a human connection through empathy
  5. Be positive and encouraging
  6. Say thank you
  7. Share your stories

I will take the idea one step further and suggest that we end a conversation with yes.  “Yes” to leaving the door open to reconnect and continue the conversation.

You may just be opening the door to new possibilities!

This post also appears on Thrive Global posted on October 29, 2019.

Trish Tonaj is a Certifed Personal Trainer, Master Coach, Author, Mentor and Speaker offering keynotes and workshops on how to scale and amplify your business. She is the founder and guest blog host for shareyourstories.online a portal in support of mentorship and the entrepreneurial spirit.  We invite You to share your story!

How Do We Encourage Outside The Box Thinking?

Trish Tonaj
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Creativity is the Mother of Invention

When we think about innovation, all of the “things” we consider to be part of our everyday life began as a whisper that became an idea, leading to a discovery and ultimately the production of a product or service.

Outside the box thinking is the foundation for all new inventions big or small.

As an entrepreneurial coach, I work with individuals who have great ideas that fuel their passion for business.  At times, they may seem far fetched, even outrageous.  A productive brainstorm session will prioritize the ideas into action items, some to be shelved for another place and time, while others are for immediate implementation.

I refer to this stage as “incubators of creativity.”

I find it interesting to hear about the process of innovation.  The times where lightbulb moments occur and excitement builds over the creation of a new idea.

How do we encourage outside the box thinking?

What are the circumstances that lead to this type of creativity?

Throughout the discussions I have had with innovators, there seems to be a time when we feel relaxed or at rest that the best ideas take shape.  For some, it is when they are meditating, walking, jogging or just plain taking a nap. We’ve all heard the advice to keep a pen and paper handy on our beside table so that when a great idea pops into mind we are able to jot down a few notes, allowing us to fall back to sleep and then in our waking hours continue the process.

This type of creative thinking is critical for the advancement of technology and the production of goods and services that allow for society to flourish and grow.

We need to celebrate and support great ideas.

I remember a grade school art teacher who used to encourage that we colour outside the lines.  I was devastated to hear that my quest for perfect colouring was not going to be rewarded and it wasn’t long before the entire class was creating some pretty amazing works of art.  My parents were a little shocked when I came home with these unusual creations but when I think about it now, what a brilliant way to encourage outside the box thinking at an early age.

Perhaps we need to give ourselves permission to be outrageous so that we encourage outside the box thinking and spark new ideas.

When was the last time you coloured outside the lines?…Creativity is the mother of invention.

 

This post was first shared on Thrive Global, October 27, 2019.

Trish Tonaj is a Coach – MCC offering keynotes and workshops on Mentorship…breaking barriers, starting new conversations and creating a new definition for success. She is the guest blog host for shareyourstories.online and invites you to share your story!