Changing Directional Thought Processes – Have you ever watched Wheel of Fortune on television? There have been times when I have watched it and think of one word likely in the puzzle, and I can’t think of any other word that could fit – even after I know the word I’m thinking is not correct. It is like a tunnel-vision of thought that I cannot break. Once the puzzle is revealed I may realize how obvious it was. But I could not break my own tunnel-vision of thought.

How many times have you been in a meeting or leading a discussion and realized only one avenue of thought was being explored? Working with pastors and church teams, I see this often. Recently, a church team was considering behavior patterns of their church. Patterns the church had developed that may be detrimental to the church’s growth. The conversation turned to their Sunday morning Bible study and carried on for fifteen minutes. When I would ask the team, “What else?” The response would be something about Bible study groups. While structuring for a more effective, disciple-making Bible study was certainly a need, I realized the group was stuck in a tunnel-vision thought pattern. I needed to break the thought processes of the team and redirect their thinking toward behavior patterns in other areas of church life.

First, I needed to break into the current thinking, lead the team away from Bible study only. “These are good, and you certainly have realized a great need in changing the behavior patterns of Bible study groups. However, we need to look at all areas of the church life.” These two statements cause a pause in the thinking of everyone in the room. The subtle compliment in the first statement breaks the chain of thought. Then I would need to redirect the thought processes. “What other behavior patterns, good or bad, do you see in other ministries or actions of the church body that positively or negatively affect the church?” The conversation moved away from Bible study and other areas were addressed. Since that meeting the team has identified areas of need in Bible study and have the first steps in place to becoming more effective and efficient in building disciples and fulfilling the Great Commission. Not only in Bible study, but in three other areas of church life as well.

In chapter nine of the book Turnaround Journey, coach Greg has been leading the church leadership team in a discussion using questions and statements to engage the team’s higher order thought processes. At a particular point Greg realizes the team members are focusing on only one aspect or one line of discovery. Team members are caught in a tunnel-vision of their thought processes. Greg poses one question to break this tunnel-vision. “Are your driving gauges solely on the instrument panel of the dash in your car?” With this one question Greg is forcing the team members to unearth a different line of thinking.

It is like a train changing tracks. This question causes the team to think of gauges as something other than instruments found on the car’s dash board. It is a think outside the box question. Greg realized the members were focused only on those instrument panel gauges. So he uses a question to redirect their thinking. The question is worded in such a way that it interrupts everyone’s thinking, but it also interrupts their thought processes. After giving time for those thought processes to be broken down Greg rephrases the question to enlighten his listeners and to reengage their thinking. He could have asked the second question first and avoided the awkward silence. However, Greg knew he needed to break down the thought processes and after the appropriate time, regenerate them. What do you think, was he successful? Read chapter nine of Turnaround Journey to see if the conversation changed directions. Did the team members realized there was more to be explored than the twelve inches of a dash panel?

Changing directional thought processes takes people deeper in their learning experience, causing more than impressions to be made. Changing directional thought patterns does not stop with attaching old information to new. It leads people in a discovery of what they had not considered or experienced in the past. Learning to use questions that change directional thought processes is a powerful tool in helping others gain insight, and change behavior patterns (people begin looking at subjects from a different perspective). However, a word of caution is due here. Using this directional change too early or with wrong timing can have a detrimental effect on the learning process. In leadership this can have an adverse effect on the team’s ability and willingness to carry out assignments. Learn to use this when appropriate, but always use cautiously, and with wisdom.

Jesus used this type of leadership with the religious leaders, his disciples and others following Him. Can you name a time Jesus changed the directional thought processes of 1) the religious leaders (Pharisees, Scribes, Sanhedrin), 2) his disciples, 3) one or more of His followers?

For more information on Changing Directional Thought Processes contact George Yates and purchase your copy of Turnaround Journey.