Make your mind work better

Mental agility, the ability to think on one’s feet, to think outside the box and developing what I call a forward mind helps you thrive in diverse environments. Here is how to start developing a mental attitude that gives you the edge:

Step away from immediacy: When you are busy all the time you don’t have time to think effectively. Make time to reflect. It’s important to schedule some time each week to reflect on what worked, to identify when you were at your most productive and how you can do even better.

Engage in brainstorming: This is a great way to quickly tap from collective wisdom. Look for smart thinkers and those who are solution-oriented to help you think through issues. Work with those who can provide the constructive questioning or critiquing that will give you fresh insights and perspectives.

Think on paper: Many people try to keep track of everything they need to do in their head; but when you think only in your head, things can get cluttered. Learn to write your thoughts down because once the information is out of your head, it’s easier to get clarity and to figure out what’s best to do.

Be open-minded: Keep company with people who get you to think and stop you from thinking in ‘this is the way it’s always been’ terms. Become your own devil’s advocate in order to diffuse any unhelpful thinking patterns.

Read, read, read: Reading good material is one of the quickest ways to enrich your mind. The more good material you read, the quicker any negative and outdated thoughts are flashed out. Go out of your way to read material different from what you normally would. This will stretch your mind as you take in new knowledge.

Change your frame: Your frame of reference does impact a lot on the viewpoints you have. Bounce ideas on other people so as to get fuller and alternative perspectives.

Now take action: What two ways can you adopt to improve your mind?