In many cases throughout your life, you’ll find yourself in a situation where you need to look at things from another’s perspective. This can be difficult, but with a little work, you can start seeing things from others’ points of view with ease.

 

Perceptual Positions Process

The ‘Perceptual Positions Process’ is a method that I’ve used myself and with my Engaging Executive clients many times over the years. Here’s how it goes. 

1. You 

First, look at things from your position. What are your needs and wants in the situation? How do you feel? 

2. Them

Step completely outside of yourself and into the other person’s shoes. What do they want? What are they feeling? How do they see things? 

3. Third Person

Lastly, step into a completely unbiased, objective, detached space and look at the situation as an outsider. How would a complete stranger see things?

 

Takeaways

Using the Perceptual Positions Process helps you to develop empathy and look at a situation in a logical way, while taking everyone’s emotions into consideration, so that you can then proceed forward making the best decision possible for everyone.

It may not be clear for you what it would be like for the other person and may need some help with resolving conflicts, for tips on this, read here. If you would like to know more on a free assessment of skills against the ENGAGE model, click here.