In every day interactions all people accumulate thoughts, experiences and pieces of information that gets in the way of performing effectively. These experiences, information and thoughts disrupt a clear thinking process – and, as a result, organizational performance.

How can you, as the business owner, implement systems to manage people effectively in unclear, chaotic environments?

Emptying Contents

The process of emptying contents is like removing sand particles from a glass of mud. Just like you cannot see through a glass of mud – contents will get in the way of a clear thinking process.

People have reported that after going through the process of emptying contents, they experience clarity, get more work done and work more effectively. They also experience being able to listen to other people and communicating clearly. People’s experiences are heightened on a day to day basis, they feel connected with others and most experience joy and satisfaction.

So, you may be wondering…

“How does emptying contents work?”

It consists of one person speaking while another person actively listens. The speaker will speak without editing, censoring or prettifying what they are saying. They will say whatever they are experiencing. The listener should listen without judgment or opinion, and, be able to give back the content of what is said without any additions or embellishments. It is simple, however, not easy. The listener must be trained to listen effectively, which takes practice, sometimes years of training.

If you remove the particles of sand from the glass of mud, eventually all that is left is a glass of clear water. The same is true for emptying content. And the difference for the person who has emptied all content can now “see” clearly – like looking through a glass of water versus looking through a glass of mud.

What would be possible for your organization if it was based around a culture that is able to remove the particles of mud and listen with no judgement?