Intention Gives You Power
“If you intend something to happen, it happens, if you intend it to happen. Verbalization* is not the intention. The intention is the carrier wave which takes the verbalization along with it.” — L. Ron Hubbard (*verbalization: expressing oneself in words.)
When you use the correct level of intention in your communication, people pay attention to you.
For example, you are in a busy store and need a clerk’s help. With poor intention, you might wait all day. But with strong intention, you look at the clerk, his head whips around and he asks if he can help you.
When you add firm intention to your communication, you get better results.
For example, if you tell your children to clean up their rooms with weak intention, they continue to play around. If you tell them to clean up their rooms with strong intention, they clean up their rooms.
Intention at Work
Your job is easier when you use the correct amount of intention.
For example, a coworker named Chris likes to complain to you. Chris says, “I hate this crappy chair.” “This weather is horrible.” “Oh no, here comes Mr. Big again.”
Tolerating or avoiding Chris resolves nothing. Your workplace remains stressful.
Yet if you look Chris in the eye and say, “Chris, stop complaining,” you enjoy some wonderful results – if your intention is strong enough. It does not matter how loudly or softly you speak as verbalization has nothing to do with it. Your intention gives power to your statement.
A salesperson, with a strong intention to sell, gets more sales. A service representative, with a strong intention to make customers happy, makes customers happy. A job applicant, with a strong intention to land the job, gets the job.
A manager with poor intention gets little cooperation. However, a manager with strong intention, creates a motivated team.
Exercise
1. Write down something that is difficult for you to get someone to do.
For example, your coworker Joe borrows your stapler and always forgets to bring it back. You need your stapler back, but it’s always a hassle.
2. Practice using weak intention.
For practicing purposes, you can use a coach, spouse, friend, or even a mirror.
In our example, practice asking Joe to return your stapler. Use little or no intention. Really be weak.
Say or verbalize, “Can I have my stapler back?” but in your mind, have this intention: “Excuse me Joe, can I ask you a favor? If you don’t mind, could you please return my stapler when you get a chance please?”
Even though this seems silly, practice using very weak intention until you can do it easily.
3. Now practice using more intention than is necessary!
In this exercise step, you verbally say, “Can I have my stapler back?” but now your intention is “JOE, BRING BACK MY STAPLER RIGHT NOW!”
Do this step a few times until you can do it easily. Even though your words are the same as before, make your intention as strong as possible.
4. Next, use the correct amount of intention.
You still say, “Can I have my stapler back?” while using clear intention: “Joe, return my stapler when you are done with it.”
Your intention is not too weak and it is not too strong. It is just right.
Repeat this step a few times until it is comfortable for you.
5. When you are ready, go do it!
Use your intention to get what you want. Get someone to do something important. Use intention to make people do what you ask.
If you use the correct amount of intention, your results are amazing!
You have more power.