I’m a big fan of the 2X2 matrix, I’m pretty sure that every business concept can be explained using this tool. Alex Lowy’s book The Power fo the 2X2 is a great reference manual (www.2×2matrix.com).
One of the keys to Business Improvisaton is recognizing your own tendencies or preferences when it comes to paying attention.
The way we pay attention can be illustrated in this 2×2 matrix, our attention slides on a scale between internal – external and broad – narrow. [Nideffer]. Everyone has a preferential attentional channel; the channel that is easiest to stay in and that we generally switch to under stress. We can function in our least preferred channel, and have probably learned how to in order to be successful, but, it’s uncomfortable and tires us out.
If your tendencies or comfort zone move toward always being aware of your surroundings; having ‘street sense’, you react well to changing environments, you ‘read’ people well and sense subtle nonverbal signals or moods. Your preferred attentional channel is Awareness. Your challenge or distracter can be sensory overload from too much stimuli around you. I think you want to place this thought at the end of this section as I believe you are indicating that this is the preferred channel for information gathering.
If you like to think your way out of situations, make mental connections easily, figure things out, create new ideas, anticipate the future and make projects, and are not limited by time or reality, your attentional preference is likely Conceptual. Your challenge may be becoming too absorbed or lost in your own head, or paralysis by analysis.
The last two channels, are often combined because when you are narrowly focused on completing an action it generally does not matter if it is an internal action, such as taking care of details, creating a mental map or problem solving, or if its an external focus such as sighting an arrow to the target or following through on a promise. Your challenge can be getting too absorbed in what you do.
Generally people switch between challenges very quickly all the time. Under pressure and stress we tend to rely on our dominant attentional channel for action. However, your preferred channel may not be the best thing for the situation at hand.
