One of the ways we can make sense of our world is to simplify things by finding patterns. But that is just a small part of the power of pattern recognition. Recently, I wrote about the problems with pattern recognition - consider this a companion piece. Reading both will give you a more complete picture of how pattern recognition affects how we work and live. I’ll show you how, if we understand and use pattern recognition to our advantage, we can be more effective.

What is Pattern Recognition?

It is our brain’s ability to use patterns from past and current experiences to more accurately predict possible future experiences.

This is an amazing ability that we have, especially if we recognize the skill and harness it effectively. Here are five ways we can use the power of pattern recognition in our lives.

Understanding Others

While every person on the planet is unique, treating everyone only and always as one-of-one hinders our pattern recognition. Without recognizing and understanding the patterns from our previous interactions, we will have trouble communicating and building relationships with others. Recognizing past patterns (perhaps from a style assessment like DISC) improves our chances of successful future communication. Noticing someone’s behavior patterns helps us respond in a way that improves our chances for success.

Solving Problems

The ability to recognize the similarities between current and past situations helps us solve problems. We can more easily identify root causes of problems and take preventive steps to avoid them in the future. Pattern recognition helps us connect one situation to another and identify causes and effects more clearly and quickly.

Making Decisions

We make hundreds of micro decisions in our lives every day. When we consciously look at the relative success of those decisions, patterns emerge that help us make future decisions. Deciding our next steps then doesn’t always have be fresh and new. Rather, we can use patterns of past situations and results to help us choose our next point of action now.

Planning Effectively

We use the power of pattern recognition anytime we build a plan, using our past experiences to project forward. We set more realistic goals, allocate our resources more effectively, and predict the likelihood and severity of any challenges arising.

Saving Time

Once we see a pattern in an activity, event, or behavior, we can repeat it the next time. This can help us develop shortcuts and streamline work processes. Ever built a template for a procedure, or used “Copy and Paste?” If so, you have utilized pattern recognition.

This is by no means a complete list of the power of pattern recognition. But hopefully you can see that the power of pattern recognition can actually be a superpower. And like any superpower, it must be treated with care. Using our powers consciously and intentionally makes our lives easier, netting us far better results.

How will you intentionally use the power of pattern recognition today?

Kevin Eikenberry is a recognized world expert on leadership development and learning and is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. He has spent over 30 years helping organizations across North America, and leaders from around the world, on leadership, learning, teams and teamwork, communication and more.

Twice he has been named by Inc.com as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts in the World and 100 Great Leadership Speakers for Your Next Conference. The American Management Association named him a “Leaders to Watch” and he has been twice named as one of the World's Top 30 Leadership Professionals by Global Gurus. Top Sales World has named him a Top Sales & Marketing Influencer several times, and his blog has been named on many “best of” lists. LeadersHum has named him one of the 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership in 2023.

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