Input, review and output: three steps to help you think about key topics
I love reading and sharing books, and I hold a book club every month. In the Book Club (opens in a new tab) I held in the middle of this month, I will introduce to you the book “[Thinking about Key Issues: More Important than Solving Problems, a Super-Precise Work Method to Achieve Goals Quickly]” (https://www.books.com (opens in a new tab)) written by Japanese writer Shimizu Hisamiko .tw/exep/assp.php/vista/products/0010817286?utm_source=vista&utm_medium=ap-books&utm_content=recommend&utm_campaign=ap-201905)》book.
Hisamiko Shimizu is the former chief consultant of IBM International Business Services Division in Japan, and is also a writer I like very much. I have read many of her previously published books, such as “[IBM Chief Consultant’s Most Popular Chart Presentation Techniques]” (https://www.books.com.tw/exep/ass (opens in a new tab) p.php/vista/products/0010749776?utm_source=vista&utm_medium=ap-books&utm_content=recommend&utm_campaign=ap-201905 )”, “IBM Chief Consultant’s Learning Method for Adults (opens in a new tab)”, “IPO work techniques that will never work overtime (opens in a new tab)》,《Foreign investors must Chart editing power (opens in a new tab)” and “Use the right graphics to make presentations more powerful: IBM presentation guru teaches impressive chart presentation techniques (opens in a new tab)》etc.
Hisamiko Shimizu is known as the “expert in cultivating experts” and has cultivated more than 5,000 foreign business elites in Japan. She found that failure at work often had nothing to do with personal ability and academic qualifications. The main reason for failure was the inability to grasp the full picture of the incident. The author believes that if we want to effectively solve various complex problems, we must first know how to think about “key issues.”
So how do we develop the ability to think about key topics?
The author points out that through three perspectives and three steps, you can design an action guide that delivers results beyond expectations.
The so-called “three perspectives” are to clarify the background knowledge of the problem, clarify the depth and breadth of the topic, and set key actions through perspective, vision and viewpoint:
- Perspective: Who is the main character corresponding to this topic, and what is the purpose to achieve?
- Vision: Determine the depth (time axis) and breadth (space axis) of the topic.
- Point of View: What are the key actions that meet the expectations of the main character?
As for the “three steps”, they are input, review and output.
- Input: Collect information and analyze the current situation, and draw the outline of the topic.
- Review: Screen out erroneous information and confirm again through the golden thinking combination.
- Output: Don’t just write it down but speak it out! Transform the topic into actions that everyone is willing to practice together.
Through the following picture, we can clearly understand the key points that the author wants to convey.
In other words, in three different stages, we have to do different things, such as listening carefully, [perspective-taking-methodology.html] and setting target audience etc. Only in this way can we achieve the correct methods and actions that exceed expectations, making us irreplaceable talents!
The three steps of inputting, viewing, and outputting may sound basic, but for busy modern people, it may not be easy to actually execute them. In my opinion, input is indeed a basic skill, but if you only input without inspecting and outputting, it will be in vain. Just like Japan’s potential coach Chihisa Ikuta (opens in a new tab) in “Mediocre people copy notes fiercely, talented people diligently write down their experiences: 6 forces that transform oneself within 24 hours (opens in a new tab)” mentioned in the book, “It The most important thing is to use real information, and follow the rule of “20% input, 80% output”, write down your experience frequently (opens in a new tab) is the way to go!”
I can also share my experience with you. In the past, I only typed hard and hoarded a lot of nuts like a squirrel (opens in a new tab), but rarely spent time digesting and examining them. As the saying goes “Bite off more than you can chew (opens in a new tab)”, this is wrong! Therefore, I have switched from the input mode to the output mode, not only receiving information, but also paying more attention to the processing and output procedures, and taking action first.
——Even if you encounter a big problem, you should break it down into several small tasks, just like Masayoshi Son, the founder of Software Bank taught us (opens in a new tab): Turn a goal that no one believes in into a successful career, and never underestimate small successes in anything you do.
Being able to take into account both input and output is naturally the best; and multiple outputs are better than “only input and no output”.
GE CEO Imelt (opens in a new tab) (Jeffrey Immelt) once said (opens in a new tab): “In today’s rapidly changing world, what affects success is not ‘what you know’, but ‘how quickly you can get into the situation’.”
Dear friend, is your behavior pattern more inclined to input type or output type? No matter which type it is, I want to tell you - just knowing is not enough, we have to take practical actions.
Well, let’s work together now to develop the ability to think about key topics (opens in a new tab)!
💡 Do you want to write copy that will get more people to like it? Take “Read slowly and understand in seconds (opens in a new tab)” quickly.
💡 Want to learn content production and management? Come and sign up for the online course “Content Power: The Super Power of Building Brands (opens in a new tab)”.
💡 Photo Credit: Justin Luebke (opens in a new tab)
Further reading
- “Business Studies from Maker Entrepreneurship Mentor Cheng Tianzong” Book Club: Be the Maker of Your Own Life
- “Zero Second Thinking Power” master Yuji Akabane taught me intuitive thinking: immediate decision, immediate decision, and immediate execution
- “The Most Productive Year” Reading Club: Master the principles of “input, processing and output” to build an efficient life
Next step
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Vista Cheng speaks and runs workshops on AI workflows, writing and content systems for companies, schools and public agencies.
