Have you ever worked for someone who seemed to see the world in a very narrow way? No matter the situation, they interpret it through the same old lens, never considering alternatives, always rigidly reacting in a predictable fashion? If so, you’re witnessing the brain’s natural tendency to frame everything.
Why Does the Brain Frame?
The brain frames information to simplify things and conserve energy. Instead of processing every new experience from scratch, it uses past knowledge and assumptions to categorize, group, and interpret the world. This is efficient but can also be limiting. Framing can look like categorizing people, making assumptions, reacting from habits, and sticking rigidly to beliefs.
Our past experiences shape how we understand the present, predict outcomes, and respond to challenges. As we age, our brains accumulate more information and experiences, which often makes our framing more rigid. This is why older individuals—or those who have been in the same role for years—sometimes seem stuck in their ways. The frame they’ve developed becomes the only frame they use.
Framing and Leadership
For authentic leadership, successful relationships, and personal growth, it’s critical to be aware of how we have framed contexts, people, and situations. If we rigidly frame everything, we may miss out on opportunities, new perspectives, and creative solutions. And yet, shifting frames isn’t easy. When we’re stuck in a particular context, our brain actually reshapes our experiences to fit the existing frame. This is why some people refuse to see anything outside of what they think—they’ve built an entire reality around their frames.
Shifting Frames—Why It’s Important
The problem with rigid framing is that it limits us. It keeps us from seeing new possibilities and leads to reactive, often unproductive, behaviors. For example, if your boss always frames challenges as personal attacks, they’ll react defensively instead of constructively. But with conscious effort, we can develop the skill to recognize and shift our frames—leading to more open-mindedness, better problem-solving, and stronger relationships.
