The Map is Not the Territory, My Words and Your Words
Put the word “Map ” at the top of a piece of paper or on a Google Doc then list five words that describe what “Map” means to you. Undoubtedly, my list of words will be different than your list of words. We may have some in common. Yet, the likelihood of us having the exact same five words in the exact same order is highly unlikely. Today we’ll unpack the concept of ‘The Map is Not the Territory’. This is a important Neurolinguistic Presupposition (a thing tacitly assumed beforehand at the beginning).
For my friends who appreciate context: What is NLP?
What is NLP? Neurolinguistic Programming is leveraging the language of the mind to consistently achieve desired outcomes. It’s an attitude and methodology that leaves behind a trail of techniques. These allow you to navigate through any situation successfully. NLP was developed by John Grinder who had a background in linguistics; Richard Bandler whose background was in mathematics and gestalt therapy. Their focus was centered upon making explicit models of human excellence. Their work began during the seventies. This later evolved into some of the common NLP techniques and NLP theory. So, can you imagine adopting the mindset from the beginning that words and labels are personal? How would that mindset affect your interactions?
Words
Words, language and communication just fascinate me. I especially geek out on words in the workplace. Coming from a high tech background, the best is when you are in a meeting (or presentation) and people go full sentences with acronyms as the main components. “We need to adjust the NPI process to involve 3PL earlier, like at CC so we can expedite FCS”. I both respect this and detest it when a speaker doesn’t recognize their audience. Not everyone speaks acronyms. What I also recognize frequently is how people ‘run’ with a project or program only to encounter setbacks and frustrations. Typically, these come from 1) assuming (You know what assume means, right?) and 2) mis-understanding ‘what’ was being communicated.
Working Example
In an earlier blog, I used a brief example on the word ‘collaboration’. One executive felt that copying another executive on an email constituted ‘collaboration’. The other executive involved had a very different expectation of ‘collaboration’. So, you can imagine the frustration by both parties when a critical project date was missed and additional production costs were incurred. As a shareholder, it’s disappointing when I see these things happen.
Cause and Effect
It is completely powerful and effective for a leader to demonstrate courage in the face of challenges or setbacks. Courage can take many forms. For example, asking a lot of questions, admitting mistakes and making the tough call. Equally impactful is saying I’m sorry and asking for help when needed. In this ‘Map is Not the Territory’ example, leadership courage can be demonstrated by grounding in the vernacular. When I’ve recommended this approach, I’ve heard responses like: “Melissa, we are on the same page”. Unfortunately, ‘on the same page’ meant two different outcomes to an opportunity. I’ve also heard, “Melissa we are smart people and this is so simple.” “It seems offensive.” or “I’ve done this before, successfully”. So, you can learn these simple techniques easily and quickly! Ask yourself, is it more important to achieve agreed upon results or to look like the smartest person in the room? Isn’t it possible that getting clear on ‘what’ we mean could expedite business and/or personal success?
We often don’t notice when there is a disconnect because we are moving so fast on ‘our’ agenda. Grounding in the vernacular is a ‘go slow to go fast’ approach. Try it and let me know how it works for you!
I hope you found the conversation about ‘The Map is Not the Territory’’ helpful! Adopting a learner’s mindset can alleviate many frustrations, as well as teach us some things along the way.
Are you ready?: Press HERE for Success
As adults we spend the bulk of our waking hours ‘at work’. We only have a finite amount of time on this planet, and you can choose how to spend that time. I wish you much success on your career quest. Yours in balance, learning, growth and harmony. – Melissa DeLuca, CEO
