THE BIG IDEA
Left-hand Column Analysis is a tool for identifying your personal thoughts and feelings. Using Left-hand Column Analysis can help you better understand yourself and your patterns of reaction.
Left-hand Column Analysis is done using a two-column table. Write out the actual words said in a recent conversation in the right column and your thoughts/feelings for each exchange in the left column. By doing this, you understand yourself better and can separate fact and emotion more easily. This helps you make better decisions as you recognize your patterns of reaction and where you can improve them.
When you have a conversation with an outcome below your expectations, Left-hand Column Analysis can help you identify what you can do differently next time.
To use the tool:
- Write in two columns side-by-side.
- In the right column, write out each exchange of the conversation
- In the left column, write out the private thoughts and feelings you had during each exchange
Questions to ask yourself:
During a Left-hand Column Analysis to help you identify your thoughts and feelings and where you can improve:
- What assumptions did I have about this person going into the conversation?
- What happened in this conversation that’s a pattern from previous conversations?
- When did I react emotionally rather than logically?
- What emotions led the conversation off-course?
- When and how did I express those emotions?
Keep looking for opportunities to use Left-hand Column Analysis this week. If none come up, do at least one more for a past conversation.