Make the scary not so scary!

Sheri Kennedy • Oct 30, 2020

The Art of Applied Visual Thinking

The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES. Vol. 1 No. 2

Oct 30, 2020

These are scary times for multiple reasons. It's true. What if we could find a way to make scary not so scary? What if, just for a day, we could be someone else, see other people as they aren't, and change our environment to look completely different and fun? Oh, wait. That's what Halloween is for! In this article, we'll explore three ways to chomp into some Halloween inspiration candy and siphon off some of the scary.

Emojis prompt empathy.

First, do you decorate your home, your office or yourself for holidays? You may not want to change your virtual background to a haunted house, but have you thought about dressing up your next team communication? Nothing attracts attention like a visual, and of all possible imagery, faces hold the greatest appeal. This preference for faces goes back to infanthood. Emojis are fun, easy to draw faces that prompt empathy. That could be why emojis are so popular.

In your next team email, newsletter, agenda, or other communication, try your hand at adding "pumpkemojis" like the ones in the how-to. Apply an expressive face to a pumpkin, and you can convey concern, surprise, happiness or fright, for example. Try it and see what you observe — connection through laughter? Spontaneous conversations? Interpretation (visual literacy learning)?

Here's another idea. Are you nervous about having to make a presentation? OK. Let's get real. EVERYONE gets at least a little goosebump nervous before a presentation! Are you afraid the audience will feel like a Zoom room full of zombies? Try modifying the ol' "picture them naked" trick. Instead, imagine your entire audience is in Halloween costumes — actual cowboy, princess, superhero, zombie, cartoon character and vampire get-ups! You won't be able to suppress a genuine, contagious, big as a clown smile, guaranteed.

Third scary not scary idea. Is there a particular "ghoul" who scares you? Does the thought of having a conversation about a difficult topic with this person make your teeth rattle? What if there were a way to fearlessly approach conversations with bogeymen and women? Download the free Crucial Conversations template and try this simple process.

Crucial Conversations Process

Start from a positive assumption. You are both working toward the same ultimate goals to achieve the best possible outcomes. What are those SHARED GOALS? List them.
Imagine. Picture the other person as a Halloween character that makes
them more likable to you. Draw them and yourself in costume in the
"THEM" and "ME" and boxes.
Put yourself in their shoes. If you were them, what PRIORITIES might you
go to bat for?
Connect. Take a minute or two at the beginning of the conversation to
connect on a personal level. Even a pirate has a heart in there somewhere.
Jot down a question or conversation starter in the "WHAT I NEED TO SAY"
list, and you might just find the conversation goes your way. Clearly state
your top priorities in this list, too, so you can be sure you both walk away
with treats.