Capítulo 678: Chapter 605: The Necessity of Visualization Techniques

Nan Zhubin placed a blank A4 sheet horizontally between the two of them, took out a pen, and drew a small dot in the center of the paper.

“Team Leader Li, let’s do a little exercise.” Nan Zhubin looked up at Team Leader Li.

He pointed to what he had just drawn on the A4 paper: “This dot represents you, Team Leader Li. Now, please draw three concentric circles with this dot as the center.”

Although Team Leader Li was a bit puzzled, he still took the pen.

He always worked seriously, even in such exercises, drawing carefully and meticulously, and the three circles were clear and orderly from the inside out.

“Very good.” Nan Zhubin pointed to the innermost small circle, “We call this circle the ‘circle of control.’ Please think about which things in your current work you can completely control, without relying on others, that you can decide and execute on your own?”

“Once you’ve thought of the answers, write them within this circle.”

Team Leader Li was now quite cooperative with Nan Zhubin’s instructions.

But before thinking, he still paused: “Teacher Nan, are you going to ask me next to write down in sequence what I can control and what I cannot control?”

Team Leader Li was indeed very smart and experienced.

Once again, he had anticipated Nan Zhubin’s intention.

“Our unit once invited teachers to give us training, but at that time, it was about sorting out the urgency of tasks. In short…”

Team Leader Li looked at Nan Zhubin sincerely and said: “I understand what you mean, floods, disasters, those are beyond my control; while the work at hand I can do—you want to use this technique to make me understand these, right?”

This time, what Team Leader Li said was no longer resistance and defense, but a pure expression of himself.

And Nan Zhubin did not use techniques to explain in a roundabout way as he did last time.

Nan Zhubin insisted that Team Leader Li follow the current instructions: “Yes, but even if you have done it before, it’s still better to do it once more now.”

Under Team Leader Li’s puzzled gaze, Nan Zhubin explained: “In psychology, there is a type of technique called [visualization technique].”

“The core function of this technique is to transform the invisible inner world into things we can see, touch, and discuss.”

Nan Zhubin pointed to his head: “Some things, when they are only in the mind, we can never fully become aware of them; but after writing them down, feeling them becomes different.”

Saying this, Nan Zhubin pushed the A4 paper in Team Leader Li’s direction: “You may have experienced this technique before, but your state now must be different from before—give it a try?”

…

[Visualization technique] is a large category of techniques in psychology.

The one Nan Zhubin was using now is the [circle of control] technique.

Besides the effect of “objectifying abstract concepts” that Nan Zhubin just told Team Leader Li.

Another reason for letting Team Leader Li use this technique now is that visualization can significantly reduce the cognitive load of the visitor.

For Team Leader Li, who had just experienced a baptism of complex emotions, asking him to think things through in detail was already a rather difficult task.

Therefore, some external objective entities were needed for assistance.

Like the [Rational Emotive Therapy] (ABC technique) used by Nan Zhubin before, which required visitors to write down and refute their beliefs, it was based on a similar principle.

…

After listening to Nan Zhubin’s explanation, Team Leader Li did not hesitate any longer.

He first recalled Nan Zhubin’s request to him: “You want me to write down what I can control, right?”

Nan Zhubin nodded.

Without much hesitation, Team Leader Li blurted out: “The task allocation and work scheduling of my team members; the prioritization and specific plans for the existing resources in our area; and… my own scheduling of work time and energy investment—these are all under my control.”

As he spoke, he wrote these points within the “circle of control.”

“Very clear.” Nan Zhubin nodded approvingly and added, “Don’t rush; let’s think carefully. What you write down can include not only work-related matters but also things in life, as long as you can completely control them, you can write them down.”

After pondering for a while, Team Leader Li added a few more items, and then looked up to reply: “That’s all.”

“Good.” Nan Zhubin nodded, then pointed to the middle circle among the three concentric circles, “This is the ‘circle of influence.’ The matters here are those you cannot fully control, but can exert influence on through your efforts, communication, and coordination, potentially changing their outcomes.”

“Once you have thought of the answers, write them within this circle.”

This time, Team Leader Li took a bit longer to think.

His pen tip lightly tapped on the paper as he thought and muttered: “Coordinating with brother districts, seeking temporary mutual assistance… Clearly articulating our difficulties and needs to superiors, providing data and facts… and…”

He paused, continuing: “The method and attitude of communicating with the logistics department; although they may still be slow… they can be influenced.”

He spoke as he wrote these contents into the “circle of influence.”

This time, without needing Nan Zhubin’s reminder, Team Leader Li thought for a long time after finishing writing.

After confirming there were no omissions, he looked up and gave Nan Zhubin a definitive answer: “Done writing.”

“Very good, now let’s move to the final step.” Nan Zhubin’s finger landed on the outermost and largest circle.