A 2nd Installment in the How to Avoid the Brain Booby Traps Series

The phrase 'booby trap' is derived from the Spanish word bobo that translates to daft, naive, simple, clown, or one who is easily cheated. The word itself sounds silly...ridiculous. Similarly, it is silly...ridiculous...daft...naive...simple...to not challenge our own thinking. When we fail to do self-assessment, we end up looking like a clown cheating ourselves out of our most vibrant life. 

This is a second installment in my plea for humanity everywhere to exercise metacognition. Metacognition is the act of thinking about how you are thinking. The individuals I work with engage in coaching so that they can excel, reach a goal, or uncover their purpose. This kind of work is not silly or ridiculous. It is not for the those who believe they are daft or naive. This is not simple work that any clown can do. And believe me, if you don't exercise metacognition you will cheat yourself out of a vibrant life.

However, as a life and leadership coach, I see brain booby traps bubble up in my clients, their teams, and their stakeholders. Unwittingly, individuals stumble across brain booby traps that derail their best efforts and leave them stuck.  

Let's examine this brain booby trap: "I don't get it."

This statement is a declaration that an individual has been given the gift of fresh insight but refuses to understand. While I understand that sometimes new information may not immediately 'click' in one's mind, it is imperative that you seek to understand instead of rejecting the new information. The two mental models at odds inside the brain of a human who "just doesn't get it" are judgment and curiosity. 

Join Nicole Greer, PPCC a.k.a. the Vibrant Coach for strategies, systems and smarts for developing a deeper understanding of any subject matter.