About your desk
If a messy desk symbolises a messy mind, what does an empty desk symbolise?
It’s a quip attributed to Einstein, though there’s no proof he said it.
It’s a favourite of mine because my father was (is!) notorious for having a messy desk.
Regardless, I believe the state of my physical deskspace has an impact on my psychology.
So, as simple as the tips that follow may seem, they might just help you like they do me.
Feeling overwhelmed? Clear your physical desk space....
Think you made that decision?
Imagine speeding down a motorway in Germany, doing speeds that would put you in jail in Australia.
It’s time for a rest stop, so you pull into a petrol station to refuel and use the toilets.
On your way out of the bathroom, you diligently leave some money as thanks, vowing once you’re back in your home country to never take a free toilet for granted again.
So, what influenced you to pay? If no one was standing witness, why bother?
It was because you’re an honest...
How seating impacts decisions
Did you know where people sit can have an impact on whether they’ll agree with you?
If you want to improve the chances of consensus, arrange chairs in a circular formation.
If you instead want people to retain their independence, set the chairs in an angular formation.
The difference is how the environment cues decision-making.
According to 2017 research, in a circular formation, our need for belonging is cued, so we’re more likely to be consensus driven.
In an angular...
Gaining, maintaining and directing attention
Let’s talk about why I love this ad.
Tweeted by @Karminker, I love this ad for the following reasons.
It’s true. The missing tooth absolutely wins focus and supports the importance of dental care.
It surprises. What looks like a boring ad is actually clever and witty.
It makes you experience your own information processing blind spots. Yes, the first thing we see is the smile, not the missing eyebrow.
And that’s what I want to talk about today - gaining, directing and...
You've been primed! Will Smith shows us how to influence the subconscious.
There’s a scene in the recent Will Smith movie, “Focus” where as a seasoned con-man he is involved in a high stakes bet.
He lets the gent against whom he is betting randomly choose the number of a football player from the teams below them in the stadium.
If Will Smith’s off-sider (Margot Robbie) also chooses the same random player, Smith wins. If not, he loses everything.
Spoiler alert, both choose player 55 and Smith wins.
Turns out that there was nothing...
