Reference no: EM133948298

Assignment:

In Chapter 6, you learned about using visualization in setting and achieving goals. Visualization is a technique of focusing mentally on something you want to do or accomplish. By creating a mental picture and "practicing" what you want to do, you help the mind establish a positive view that you can accomplish it.

Sports training programs frequently include visualization as part of the training for an event. For example, a football player who wants to become a better receiver may visualize specific routes he wants to run effectively. He closes his eyes, relaxes, and visualizes the best route he runs-a fade. He visualizes the quarterback calling a fade and dropping back to pass, and he takes off running full-speed down the sideline toward the end zone. He ignores the crowd yelling wildly as the quarterback throws a long pass to him. He feels the presence of the defender right behind him and times a perfect jump to bring down the ball over the defender's out-stretched arms. He hears the crowd roaring, watches the referee signal the touchdown, and feels the satisfaction of making a great play. He practices this process many times for his best routes.

The concept is often applied to business activities by visualizing how to improve a work process that is slowing down productivity or how to change a product to enhance it significantly. A person who fears making a presentation might rehearse it mentally from dressing properly all the way through the process to applause from the audience.

Stories abound about a legendary prisoner of war in Vietnam, Major James Nesmeth, who played a perfect mental round of golf each day during his seven-year imprisonment. After he was released, his first round of golf was about 20 strokes better than his average before he was imprisoned. While this account cannot be documented, many motivational speakers and writers have used it.29 Zig Ziglar, a popular motivational seminar leader, describes the process as "the mind complet[ing] whatever picture we put in it." The example he uses is that if you place a 12-inch plank on the floor, you see yourself easily and safely walking it-your mind completing a positive outcome. But if that 12-inch plank is stretched between two buildings high in the air, you see yourself falling from it-your mind completing the negative outcome.

Conducting an effective meeting is a professional activity I would like you to improve.

1. Determine what specific knowledge and skills this objective requires.

2. Describe in detail how you would visualize yourself successfully doing this activity.