Collaborative Energy
Two minds are better than one.
Not just because there is more brainpower.
It’s not as simple as cumulative thinking. When individuals spark off each other, throw ideas, challenge thought processes, provoke thought with divergent thinking, they for the large majority, end up somewhere new.
Cognitive psychologists created the Johari Window which graphically represents what is know and unknown in a four-square sequence.
The tool was originally created for exploring “interpersonal awareness”.
Re-imagined it provides insight into why as a business we have an advisory panel and collaborative approach to our advice model.
Open Area
Shared knowledge, things we know as a collective.
Example: Clients’ goals, needs, objectives, and financial position.
Blind Spot
Contains things that others know but are a blind spot for you personally.
Example: I understand loan structure, positioning, and repayment capacities for a client. But, I don’t know which bank will offer the best options, rates, and repayment figures. A mortgage broker would assist me in making this an open area.
A new blind spot may be whether the client should live in the property or Rentvest based on the negative gearing or tax incentive factors. A tax adviser would assist in making this an open area.
Hidden Area
Things you know but conceal from others.
Example: A couple throughout the advice process see that different goals or stages in their life may affect their advice and finance strategy. The partner has been thinking of proposing and hasn’t told anyone yet. After the meeting, he calls the advice team to say that the additional funds he has saved are actually for an engagement ring and they can’t be factored into the plan.
Now, he doesn’t know what to say.
As an advice team in a future appointment, we can raise examples of why having a cash buffer is important… Emergencies, holidays, weddings, or even planning for a child is something that should be done proactively. The couple agrees to keep the funds in the partner’s account as a “future them” fund.
Unknown
Where the problem solving happens. Where collaborative energy is most useful and creative. The place without answers. It’s where the questions are created.
Our favourite place.
Example: Music, Science, and even Sport provide examples of improvisation, bouncing ideas, experimentation, strategic thinking, runnings scenarios, anticipating all the next moves, and seeing all the angles.
The goal in our advice model is to continually expand the open area.
When reading the above, we wonder why anyone would want to problem solve alone.
Our advisory panel has grown by 5 professionals in the last 12 months. It will continue to grow as our client base and business expands.
Those that work and have worked with us will understand the importance of the Johari Window and the importance of collaborative energy.
You can now use this as a tool to expand your knowledge and begin to dive into the unknown of your financial world.