Tick-Tock is an effective method to overcome fears, self-doubt and insecurities, especially in innovation work. Anyone who is unsure about their creativity or the quality of their results can successfully use this written exercise in a spreadsheet to see their work from a better perspective.
Tick-Tock is based on the findings of psychologist Prescott Lecky (1892 to 1941), who was a pioneer in the study of human self-image. He found that man has a need for consistency, permanence.
If a statement does not fit with existing, stronger basic assumptions and beliefs, it is rejected. Lecky found two levers powerful enough to overcome basic negative assumptions about ourselves:
1) Believing that you can successfully complete your tasks requires a certain level of independence.
2) The belief that you have something within you in terms of talent and ability that makes you equal to the rest of the world. This faith saves man from making himself smaller and suffering humiliation.
The Tick-Tock method involves confronting yourself with your fears, self-doubts and insecurities by writing them down. The next step is to write positive factors next to each statement. The exercise is to replace old, negative thoughts with new, better self-images. Michael Michalko describes Tick-Tock in the chapter “Original Spin” in his book “thinkertoys”.
