Got a challenge you’re struggling to overcome? Name it. Yep. Name it.

Think about it: We name just about everything, from children to buildings to streets to well…you name it. Ironically, too many challenges, in our personal and professional lives, go unnamed. If we don’t name challenges  we decrease the  likelihood of solving them in smart and strategic ways.

 

So Why Is Naming Challenges So Important?

1) Naming Creates Identity — When I speak, I often ask parents in the audience if they named their children. After the laughs, I ask a more serious question: Why did you name them? This question usually gets some humorous responses. For example. I named Sally so she would know I’m yelling at her and not her sister.

 

However, beyond the fun, parents always agree that they named their kids, in part, to establish identity. A name makes something “this” and not “that.” A name makes someone “Dave” and not “Pete.”  Your challenges, just like children, need an identity. Naming challenges moves them from a vague frustration to an identifiable obstacle in need of transformation.

 

2) Naming Carves out a Space — Names give texture, context and shape to things. If you’re a sports fan, and I say to you, “The Big Dance,” you know I’m talking about the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. That name carves out a space in March (and early April) where the best teams in the NCAA compete to be champs. To overcome a challenge, it needs to occupy a space in the world. Naming the challenge carves out that space so that you and/or your tribe can specifically refer to it as a targeted set of circumstances. Once that space is made, it’s easier to operate inside it.

 

3) Naming Compels Investment — Once a challenge has identity and space in the world, it’s harder to ignore. It now becomes a project that requires the investment of time and resources. What we name gets our attention and our resources.

 

4) Naming creates a frame–The words you use to name a challenge are critical. Words create frames of meaning and perception. And those frames lead to ways of behaving. A well-named challenge invites people to work hard for inspiring outcomes. A poorly named challenge diminishes energy and breeds entropy.

 

Free 30-Minute Webinar: Turn Challenges Into Change By Naming Them

April 14 @ 2 PM EST

OK, so naming challenges is important. But how do you do it? Naming challenges is a skill that you have to develop. And it requires that you know the two qualities contained in great names.

I’ll share those two qualities needed for great name-making as well how to avoid common     “naming” mistakes. 

 

Here’s the link to register for the webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/dd0400b80becafed66858a512be5123a