The dichotomy between psychology and business is vast and seems insurmountable from college to the real world. But these two fields are more closely related than most would expect. In fact, David Reiss, a multi-talent who has worked in hundreds of industries, claims that psychology is the key that can help companies finally scale to success.
Reiss has always seen the world a little differently. “I see angles, approaches, vectors and perspectives that most people don’t see.” Even if a task seems impossible, he finds a way to get it done. If you look at Reiss’ résumé, you might be overwhelmed. He has worked in roles that range from marketing to science to entertainment. Despite several transitions, Reiss notes that one thing remains constant: he never takes no for an answer. “There has to be an answer. There is always a victory. “
Although Reiss’ wisdom and broad experience now qualify him for pretty much any job in the world, his career transitions are always triggered by what interests him most at the time.
His intrinsic motivation and inability to slow down, whether he’s developing a marketing campaign, speaking at an international conference, or at the helm of a multinational corporation, has of course catapulted him to spectacular success. Even so, many of the most important tips he gives budding entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs have to do with basic psychology.
1. How you ask a question determines the outcome
Reiss’s first tip is to think about how you are asking a question. Why? There is a direct correlation between the wording of your question and the way (and sometimes if) you move forward on a project or get what you want.
A classic example that Reiss likes to cite is a priest approaching a bishop and asking a question. “If the question is, ‘Eminence, do you mind if I smoke while I pray?’ the answer is immediately: “No, prayer is a sacrament. I forbid it. ‘ But if the question is rephrased as “Your Eminence, do you mind if I pray while I smoke?” the answer is always: ‘Oh, carry on.’ “
Using psychology to your best advantage will always move you forward. Understanding the needs and intentions of others in such a way that the idea appears like the other person’s can help you get the results you want.
2. Don’t take the easy route in the interview
Interviews are an important skill whether you are an interviewer or an interviewee. Although most people focus more on interview preparation, Reiss encourages you to think carefully about how you are interviewing others. Here, too, the formulation of a question is crucial.
When most of us prepare for an interview, we think of certain basic questions. Pretty much all candidates prepare for the strengths and weaknesses question.
Interviewers usually ask directly: What are your weaknesses? And as Reiss explains, you will never get a real answer because everyone has prepared a list of weaknesses that have some kind of positive spin; “I work too hard.” “I don’t know when to stop” etc. etc. If instead you ask, “If I call your references, which of course I will, what will they say your weaknesses are?” The answer changes drastically.
Do the hard work of understanding the person in front of you and you will get what you want. “Capture the motivations and endgame of the person. Get inside her head and turn things around. Never answer the simple questions, ”says Reiss.
3. Time travel: The 3 versions of each project
One of the most fascinating techniques in Reiss’ repertoire is time travel. He swears by it. According to Reiss, there are three versions of a project: the version you plan on, the version you actually start, and the version you would like to have when you look back a year later.
“As humans, we are not programmed to answer questions about the future. If we were, we’d all drive Ferraris and sit on the beach, ”laughs Reiss. While he’s not claiming to rewire the brain, he wants to move it into the future so people can answer questions from the past.
In addition, Reiss will lead people’s thoughts into the future in about 5 years. “Time is a state of mind. It doesn’t exist outside of our mind. If the mind is creating time, there is no reason why we cannot create another version of time, ”he notes. Located in the future, it then asks people questions about the project in the past. The technique takes about an hour from start to finish. In the end, people get a wealth of knowledge about the project and how it was actually implemented.
“Looking back is the best teacher in any situation. That shouldn’t mean that you have to wait a year for it, ”says Reiss. In addition to these tips and techniques, he has hundreds of others that he has developed over the years as he gained knowledge from each new industry. But the biggest tip of all is not to be afraid. Go ahead without fear and you can achieve anything.
Published August 21, 2021
Comments are closed.