It’s one of the most often asked questions at every conference, dinner party or when you meet someone for the first time.
What do you do?
I suspect most people are being slightly curious but they also like to know what and what they are talking to.
A lawyer.
Ok I get it.
One you say that you are a lawyer for example people put you in a box in their head filled with all sorts of positive and sometimes negative associations.
My problem in the past is that when people ask me this question I stumble.
Are you a speaker? Well sometimes.
A facilitator? I like doing this but its is a part of what i do.
A writer? I have written 4 books but this is only part of what I do.
You can see the other person’s confusion rising.
What do you do?
Now I answer:
I help people switch their thinking.
I love this response.
Firstly it better reflects what I do and secondly it leads to a more interesting conversation.
Tell me about this they often say.
Then I am off and running.
I tell people about the insight behind switch thinking which is based on watching bilingual people switch languages.
i wondered if you can learn to switch your language perhaps you can learn to switch your thinking.
Then I might show people a few switches:
For example:
What is a 1% improvement?
Switch
What might make a 100% difference?
This might lead to a discussion about my two different thinking modes (i.e. Box and Ball) and how you can switch between these.
And that you only need do this for 2 minutes.
And it might just be your most important skill in a fast changing, unpredictable world.
And on I go…
Before you know it I have chatted about Switch Thinking without a break.
Remembering my manners I return to the other person and of course ask.
What do you do?
And they reply:
A lawyer…