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This presentation consists of highlights from the interview with Moe Abdou,

founder & host of 33voices®.

Amy E. Herman, JD, MA, designed, developed and conducts all sessions of the The Art of Perception, an educational program on which her new book, Visual Intelligence, is based. While working as Head of Education at The Frick Collection, she instituted the

program for medical students to improve their observation skills.

Amy E. HermanAuthor of Visual Intelligence

Change the way you look at the world, and the world you look at will change. Perception is a skill that will forever be a work-in-progress.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes,

but in having new eyes.”- Marcel Proust

Insight #1

Insight #2

No two individuals see anything the exact same way, so refrain from making assumptions. Not only do we observe, notice, and gather in-

formation differently; we also perceive what we’ve gathered differently.

Insight #3

Leaders who approach complex problems with fresh eyes make it a habit to

step back and remember the acronym COBRA:

Insight #3

Leaders who approach complex problems with fresh eyes make it a habit to

step back and remember the acronym COBRA:Concentrate on the Camouflaged.

Look for what’s hiding & not obvious

Insight #3

Leaders who approach complex problems with fresh eyes make it a habit to

step back and remember the acronym COBRA:One Thing at a Time.

Keep your focus sharp and single minded

Insight #3

Leaders who approach complex problems with fresh eyes make it a habit to

step back and remember the acronym COBRA:Take a Break.

To avoid overstimulation, take a walk

Insight #3

Leaders who approach complex problems with fresh eyes make it a habit to

step back and remember the acronym COBRA:Realign Your Expectations.

Let go of any preconceived notions

Insight #3

Leaders who approach complex problems with fresh eyes make it a habit to

step back and remember the acronym COBRA:Ask Someone Else to Look with You.

Bring someone else in to look with fresh eyes

Insight #4

It’s the Evolved Leader who never mistakes assumptions for facts, for she knows that every person she meets is fighting a battle she knows

nothing about. To her, communication has to be Clear, Precise, and Objective.

Insight #5

How you innately feel about something is largely shaped by your personal experiences, which in turn contributes to your perceptual filters. Try asking yourself these questions:

Am I being influenced by ….

Insight #5

How you innately feel about something is largely shaped by your personal experiences, which in turn contributes to your perceptual filters. Try asking yourself these questions:

Am I being influenced by …. My values, morals, culture, or religious beliefs?

Insight #5

How you innately feel about something is largely shaped by your personal experiences, which in turn contributes to your perceptual filters. Try asking yourself these questions:

Am I being influenced by …. My professional desires, ambitious, or failures?

Insight #5

How you innately feel about something is largely shaped by your personal experiences, which in turn contributes to your perceptual filters. Try asking yourself these questions:

Am I being influenced by …. My physical state (illness, height, weight, etc)?

Insight #5

How you innately feel about something is largely shaped by your personal experiences, which in turn contributes to your perceptual filters. Try asking yourself these questions:

Am I being influenced by …. My financial experience or outlook?

Insight #5

How you innately feel about something is largely shaped by your personal experiences, which in turn contributes to your perceptual filters. Try asking yourself these questions:

Am I being influenced by …. My inherent likes or dislikes?

Insight #6

Opt not to view your biases as weakness, but be vigilant as to not

substitute them for fact-finding. Follow these three steps to better manage them:

Insight #6

Opt not to view your biases as weakness, but be vigilant as to not

substitute them for fact-finding. Follow these three steps to better manage them:

Become aware of them and boot out the bad ones

Insight #6

Opt not to view your biases as weakness, but be vigilant as to not

substitute them for fact-finding. Follow these three steps to better manage them:Don’t mistake your biases for facts,

instead use them to find facts

Insight #6

Opt not to view your biases as weakness, but be vigilant as to not

substitute them for fact-finding. Follow these three steps to better manage them:

Run your conclusions past others as to avoid reaching unconscious decisions

Insight #7

As with observation skills, the mostimportant thing you can do to sharpen

your communication skills, especially in times of stress or duress, is to separate the

objective from the subjective:

Insight #7

As with observation skills, the mostimportant thing you can do to sharpen

your communication skills, especially in times of stress or duress, is to separate the

objective from the subjective: In assessing, separate fact from fiction

Insight #7

As with observation skills, the mostimportant thing you can do to sharpen

your communication skills, especially in times of stress or duress, is to separate the

objective from the subjective: In analyzing, separate inference

from opinion

Insight #7

As with observation skills, the mostimportant thing you can do to sharpen

your communication skills, especially in times of stress or duress, is to separate the

objective from the subjective: In stressful communication, separate the

message from any and all emotion

Insight #8

Words matter. Regardless of whether you’re writing or speaking, choice of words is 100%

within your control. Choose substance!

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large

matter - ’tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning.”

- Mark Twain

Insight #9

Next time you’re facing an important issue, ask yourself these three questions:

Insight #9

Next time you’re facing an important issue, ask yourself these three questions:

What’s happening here?

Insight #9

Next time you’re facing an important issue, ask yourself these three questions:

What did I see?

Insight #9

Next time you’re facing an important issue, ask yourself these three questions:

What didn’t I see?

Insight #10

To crystallize your communication, assume that the person you are communicating with can’t see what you’re seeing at all. Ask yourself:

Insight #10

To crystallize your communication, assume that the person you are communicating with can’t see what you’re seeing at all. Ask yourself:

Was I clear as possible?

Insight #10

To crystallize your communication, assume that the person you are communicating with can’t see what you’re seeing at all. Ask yourself:

Did I ask the right questions to elicit the answers I need?

Insight #10

To crystallize your communication, assume that the person you are communicating with can’t see what you’re seeing at all. Ask yourself:

Am I only dealing with objective facts?

Did you notice the time on the clock to be 12:42?

Did you notice the “C”?

Did you notice the six strands of pearls on her neck?

What questions does the painting elicit for you?

Reflect How are your priorities defining your behavior?

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Presentation by Chase Jennings

Insights by Jenna Abdou

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