When undertaking the original Go MAD research in 1998 we set out to answer the question:
“What is the simplest way of explaining the success process that people naturally use when making a difference?”
On completing the research and through the development of Go MAD Thinking with organisations and individuals, we quickly realised that Go MAD is not a success process but a Thinking System that leads to success. A system that provides a framework of principles and interdependent links that if used enables quick, creative, clear and consistent thinking. Described here is a Go MAD thinking technique for you to use to help yourself or others to think more effectively.
1. Be aware of your thinking
The results we achieve will be affected by the quality of our thinking. Our thinking is made up of four components:
| A |
Self-talk statements – the conversations we have with ourselves in our head. These statements might be about ourselves, about others or about the situation we are dealing with. |
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| B |
Questions we ask ourselves.
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| C |
Recall of past experiences in relation to the current situation. |
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| D |
The future we imagine |
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Identify a situation that you are dealing with at the moment, maybe something that is concerning or bothering you. Use these four components to explore what you are thinking about in relation to the situation.
Ask yourself the following questions: |
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A
B
C
D |
What am I saying to myself about this situation?
What am I asking myself about this situation?
What am I remembering when thinking about this situation?
What future am I imagining in relation to this situation? |
2. Identify if your thinking is helpful or hindering
To move your thinking forward the next step is to identify if what you are thinking within these four components is helpful or hindering. Identify which of the four thinking components is helpful, which are hindering or maybe a mix of helpful and hindering.
Ask yourself the questions:
A
B
C
D |
Is what I am saying to myself helpful or hindering?
Is what I am asking myself helpful or hindering?
Is what I am recalling helpful or hindering?
Is what I am imagining helpful or hindering? |
3. Keep the helpful thoughts
If the thoughts you are having are helpful – then great! – hold onto them and keep thinking them.
4. Keep the helpful thoughts
If the thoughts you are having are hindering then, dependent on the hindering thinking component ask yourself the relevant question(s) from the following:
A
B
C
D
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If I were to choose to say something more helpful to myself what might I possibly say?
If I were to choose to ask myself a more helpful question what might I possibly ask?
If I were to choose to remember something that is more helpful what might that possibly be?
If I were to choose to imagine a more helpful future for myself what might I possibly imagine? |
The answers to these questions will help you to focus on more helpful thoughts.
5. Make it a habit
Repeat the helpful components several times in your mind. Repetition is key in forming new habits and it is said that to form a new habit you have to repeat something 21 times. The reason for repeating this to yourself is to create a 'helpful' groove in your brain. The more you think something the more it creates a groove in your brain that becomes a way of thinking. The repetition of new helpful thinking components is particularly important to replace any previous hindering grooves.
6. Help others
You can use a shortcut of these steps to help others with their thinking. If someone is talking to you about something that is bothering them it can be useful to ask “What is going through your mind?” This will help them become more aware of their thinking. If you wish you could take it a stage further and help the person to think about how any hindering thoughts might be replaced by more helpful thoughts.
7. A final thought
If you do nothing else just ask yourself: Is what I am thinking helpful or hindering?
This will help you to become aware of what you are thinking and how what you are thinking is helping or hindering you to gain the results you are after.
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