How Visualization Can Help You Reach Your Business Goals
Did you know that visualization can be a helpful tool to support you to reach your businesses/nonprofits goals?
I know it sounds a little ‘woo woo’, but it’s true and it’s backed by science!
(Not familiar with visualization? Very simply put, it’s the process of thinking about something, and imagining that it’s already happened!).
Here’s two really interesting examples of the power of visualization in action…
University of Chicago’s Dr. Biasiotto conducted an experiment where he organized participants into three groups and assessed their ability to make free throws in basketball.
- Group 1: Practiced free throws for an hour daily.
- Group 2: Visualized making free throws.
- Group 3: Did nothing.
After 30 days:
- Group 1: improved by 24%.
- Group 2: improved by 23% through visualization.
- Group 3: showed no improvement.
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation conducted an experiment with two groups:
- Group 1: Went to the gym for 30 days.
- Group 2: Visualized a workout for 30 days without any physical activity.
Results:
- Group 1 (Gym-goers) increased muscle strength by 30%.
- Group 2 (Visualization) experienced a 13.5% increase in muscle strength without physical exercise.
Convinced now? I know, it’s incredible, right!?
So, what can visualization support you with in your business/nonprofit?
- Hitting income or fundraising goals
- Selling out your services/events/fundraisers
- Recruiting your ‘perfect fit’ staff
- Feeling healthy, calm and creative
- Achieving your public speaking goals
- Being discerning and getting clarity on your future steps.
Essentially, any vision you have for the future of your business/nonprofit, visualization can help you create in real life.
Which brings us to the next question you no doubt have – “Great Maggie, but how do I actually do a visualization?”
It’s easy!
One: Find a comfortable, quiet and disruption free space
Visualization is most powerfully done when you’re in a space that’s quiet and that you can be fully present in.
Being physically comfortable is also important because when you’re not, your mind is more likely to focus on your discomfort rather than your visualization practice (and therefore strip it of its effectiveness!)
Two: Set an intention for your visualization practice
Much like the research studies I shared above, it can be helpful to have a focus for your visualization practice, rather than trying to visualize anything and everything you want to come to life.
Why? Because when you dive really deeply into visualizing a specific desire/goal, it’s power is more potent.
Three: Get visualizing
The key to visualization is imagining that what you’re desiring has already happened and embodying the qualities of that future version of yourself.
How would you feel if that goal had been achieved?
How would you show up in the world?
What would your life/business/workplace look like?
What would be different?
Try spending at least 15 minutes in your visualization!
Four: Make it a daily habit
As highlighted in the above research studies, visualizations manifest when they’re done repeatedly.
Commit to your visualization practice for at least 15 minutes everyday, for 30 days, and see what happens!
Visualization isn’t some kind of magic trick and it of course doesn’t mean that whatever you want will happen (as great as that would be – haha).
If what you’re visualizing hasn’t come to life after 30 days, don’t despair. Continue with your practice and trust that what is meant to come to you will, in its own right timing.
