1000 words on U.S.H.E.R.
No, not the r&b legend! – Read on to find out all about my U.S.H.E.R. strategy system.
What is a strategy: an adaptation or complex of adaptations (as of behaviour, metabolism, or structure) that serves or appears to serve an important function in achieving evolutionary success
Sometimes our goals are large, ambitious and ultimately defined by a desire for “more” or “less” of something; “be more organised”, “lose weight”, “stay calm”, etc which is admirable, yet hard to action as we have no specificity or way of knowing if we’ve ever reached those goals.
This is where a strategy comes in, we can work with those broad desires or the feeling of discontent with the current situation and create a system that leads us there incrementally.
I have a 5 point system that allows a strategy to come to us naturally, easily and powerfully, this system uses the acronym U.S.H.E.R. with each step giving us a part of a sentence to define the strategy. The sentence should be something highly accessible and evocative and uses this format.
- Uplifting – We have to build on what we’re starting with, develop those natural talents that, at first, might not look like talents at all. Your strategy should flex those mental muscles that you may have let atrophy. The area’s of shame, the things that set you apart from whatever your view of normal is, the things that happen without conscious thought. We need to shine a light on these areas, give them a polish and a sideways look to see how we can leverage them to lift you up.
- E.g. “be more organised” could start with “my desk is such a mess, I need to tidy it up” but what if, instead of seeing piles of paper, random objects and rubbish, you looked at your desk like a city map? There are moments of joy there, a todo list, memories and prompts, if this is you, it’s quite likely you’re a macro thinker, you see the big picture, your ability to process information is quick and you’re decisive. So let’s build on that.
- I am a big picture thinker…
- E.g. “be more organised” could start with “my desk is such a mess, I need to tidy it up” but what if, instead of seeing piles of paper, random objects and rubbish, you looked at your desk like a city map? There are moments of joy there, a todo list, memories and prompts, if this is you, it’s quite likely you’re a macro thinker, you see the big picture, your ability to process information is quick and you’re decisive. So let’s build on that.
- Simple – This is the boiling down of something complex to its essence. It’s time to strip away the emotional triggers, the caveats and the procrastinating and cut to the logical core. To get to simplicity we must reflect on what has stopped you before and remove the meanings you’ve assigned to your actions. Without all the heaviness and entanglement of meaning and a fresh look at the truth of your capabilities, we end up with a laser focussed statement.
- E.g. “Be more organised” – “I’ve always been untidy, everyone tells me I am, so that must just be who I am” – Let’s look at who ‘everyone’ actually is? Let’s look at what ‘always’ actually means? Let’s talk about the fluid nature of “who I am”? And from there let’s get to the centre of what you were trying to do and find another way to get there.
- Who likes to have a clear path to their task…
- E.g. “Be more organised” – “I’ve always been untidy, everyone tells me I am, so that must just be who I am” – Let’s look at who ‘everyone’ actually is? Let’s look at what ‘always’ actually means? Let’s talk about the fluid nature of “who I am”? And from there let’s get to the centre of what you were trying to do and find another way to get there.
- Honest – There can be many things that get in the way of honesty, most importantly in being honest with yourself. This is not to say don’t even try to do things differently, this is to say, where are your boundaries and what will push them in a way that lets you grow? Ambition, overconfidence, self-doubt, fear, all these things stunt your honesty by upsetting your balance either in seemingly positive or negative ways. This section is a time to assess your self-view, confirm your current limitations (internal and external) and find the wriggle room within those limitations, where’s the loose barrier you can push against?
- E.g. “be more organised” – “I’m never going to have a tidy desk, I don’t mind the mess and it doesn’t distract me from the task in hand”, this is great, so if the mess isn’t a problem, where else can you see a bit of space for change? “If I’m being honest, I don’t like the rubbish and I don’t like to see things in my periphery” – This sounds like you like to work in a focussed tunnel, how can we build on that tunnel as part of the strategy?
- And I zero in…
- E.g. “be more organised” – “I’m never going to have a tidy desk, I don’t mind the mess and it doesn’t distract me from the task in hand”, this is great, so if the mess isn’t a problem, where else can you see a bit of space for change? “If I’m being honest, I don’t like the rubbish and I don’t like to see things in my periphery” – This sounds like you like to work in a focussed tunnel, how can we build on that tunnel as part of the strategy?
- Easy – Whatever we decide is our strategy for adaptation, the steps need to be easy. Any actions required should take less than 10 seconds, whether that’s in mental preparation or by manipulating the physical environment. There should be no more than 3 steps required and one should follow the other. We can take a note from the “7 habits” here and work on habit stacking. Pick something you do naturally and add on a deliberate action.
- E.g. “be more organised” – “I can’t help myself, when my phone pings I need to know what’s happened” – So let’s work with that, how can you use notifications to your advantage? Or “I always make a cup of tea before I sit down to work” – Great, which positive step can you stack onto that to help you be more organised? What simple, everyday action can you take to embody this strategy, something to remind you of your natural power and help you access the talent in question. This could be something mental like a visualisation, or a minute to do a full body scan, the 5,4,3,2,1 exercise or it could be something physical, 10 press-ups, a specific stretch or just a second to concentrate on your breathing.
- By taking 10 deep breaths while the kettle boils.
- E.g. “be more organised” – “I can’t help myself, when my phone pings I need to know what’s happened” – So let’s work with that, how can you use notifications to your advantage? Or “I always make a cup of tea before I sit down to work” – Great, which positive step can you stack onto that to help you be more organised? What simple, everyday action can you take to embody this strategy, something to remind you of your natural power and help you access the talent in question. This could be something mental like a visualisation, or a minute to do a full body scan, the 5,4,3,2,1 exercise or it could be something physical, 10 press-ups, a specific stretch or just a second to concentrate on your breathing.
- Reusable – We now have the bulk of a strategy nailed down, so let’s make sure it works across all areas of our topic, we review your current statement and tweak it to make it more generic and less specific.
- E.g. “I am a big picture thinker who likes to have a clear path to their task and I zero in by taking 10 deep breaths while the kettle boils” – what about that topic is too specific? In this example it’s the kettle, there won’t always be a kettle around when it’s time to access this strategy, so what do we need to change? “We could drop the ‘while the kettle boils’?”, “Sure, so what does the statement look like now?” “I am a big picture thinker who likes to have a clear path to their task and I zero in by taking 10 deep breaths.”
And so! We have a strategy that means something to you, it’s uplifting, simple, honest, easy and reusable, here’s mine: “I am a big picture thinker who likes to have a clear path to their task and I zero in by taking 10 deep breaths.”
If you like the idea of creating a strategy for an area of your life, or if you would like to discuss a coaching session or series of session with me, fill out the “About You Quiz” and I’ll get back to you. If you want to talk to me in person, I’d love to meet you. You can now book a FREE “how do you do” session with me and I can promise you no hard sell, just a good honest coaching conversation.