How to Turn Crisis into Opportunity: Reframing Situations

Reframing is one of the powerful tools developed by NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) experts, based on modeling professionals in the field of human change and communication. While there are many articles and books dedicated to reframing, its full potential is still not fully appreciated by NLP specialists, in my opinion.

What Is Reframing?

When discussing reframing, people often start by defining the term, usually based on the English word: “re-” means “again” or “change,” and “frame” means “framework.” So, reframing is about changing the framework or perspective. The focus is often on changing limiting beliefs or viewpoints that restrict our experience and growth.

For example, if someone says, “If you’re my friend, lend me money!” the conversation can go in different directions. If you’re willing and able to lend money, there’s no need for reframing. But what if the person has borrowed from many people and never pays back, or worse, lives off others and wastes the money? In such cases, it’s best to refuse, or you’ll only enable their problem. Here, reframing can help by shifting the focus from the manipulative “friendship = money” frame to a more constructive one, such as, “As your real friend, I won’t lend you money, but I can help you figure out how to earn it.”

This approach forces the person to think beyond the “friend-money” frame and reconsider what friendship and money mean to them. This is called meaning reframing in NLP: expanding or changing the meaning of a situation. For example, “For you, a friend is someone who gives money without expecting it back. For me, a friend helps you find ways to earn money honestly.”

Types of Reframing

• Meaning Reframing: Changing the meaning of a situation or belief.
• Context Reframing: Changing the context in which a problem is viewed. For example, if someone says, “I’m too stubborn in arguments,” you might respond, “But your stubbornness helps your loved ones achieve their dreams!”
• Self-Reframing (Auto-Reframing): Applying reframing techniques to yourself, either consciously or automatically, to change your own perspective.
• Behavioral Reframing: Techniques like the “Six-Step Reframing” process, where you identify the positive intention behind unwanted behavior and find new ways to fulfill it. For example, if someone overeats under stress, the positive intention might be to reduce tension, and the goal is to find healthier ways to achieve that.

Reframing in Action: Historical Examples

Reframing isn’t just for personal issues—it can be a powerful strategy in crisis situations affecting groups, organizations, or even nations. Let’s look at some historical examples:

The 1812 War: Kutuzov’s Reframing

During the 1812 war, most people believed that “the capture of Moscow = Napoleon’s victory.” But General Kutuzov reframed the situation: “The capture of Moscow = Napoleon’s defeat.” By abandoning Moscow and trapping Napoleon’s army in the city during winter without supplies, Kutuzov turned what seemed like a loss into a strategic victory. This is an example of systemic reframing—changing the underlying assumptions of a crisis to find new solutions.

Alexander the Great: Turning Weakness into Strength

Alexander the Great often used systemic reframing in his military campaigns. For example, when facing the challenge of supplying his army with food, instead of building a fleet like his rivals, he controlled all sources of fresh water along the enemy’s route, turning the enemy’s need for water into a weakness.

Another example is the siege of Tyre, a city considered impregnable because of its walls and naval defenses. Alexander reframed the problem: “Standing at the city walls = defeat” became “Standing at the city walls = victory.” He built a causeway to the city, breaking the siege after seven months.

In the Battle of the Hydaspes River, Alexander faced an army three times larger, with 200 war elephants. He discovered that elephants were controlled by their riders (mahauts), and that horses could be trained not to fear elephants. By targeting the mahauts and using specially trained horses, Alexander turned the enemy’s main advantage into a liability, leading to a decisive victory.

How to Apply Systemic Reframing

Systemic reframing is a thinking strategy based on redefining the core assumptions (presuppositions) of a system, allowing you to find solutions to complex or crisis situations affecting groups or organizations. Here’s a step-by-step strategy you can use:

1. Identify a challenging situation.
2. Ask yourself: “What exactly is negative about it?”
3. Clearly state all negative outcomes and their consequences.
4. Consider what positive lessons this situation can teach you.
5. Ask: “What positive aspects are there in this difficult situation?”
6. What positive effects could result? How can you use the situation to achieve personal or collective goals?
7. Revisit the problem and its negative effects, and rephrase them. For example, losing a key employee could mean an opportunity to hire someone better, redistribute responsibilities, or restructure the department.
8. Identify the key systemic assumption (X = Z).
9. Redefine it by flipping it: not X = Z, X = not Z, not X = not Z.
10. Formulate “right questions” to search for solutions.
11. Determine optimal solutions and a practical action strategy.
12. Observe your emotional reaction from the outside and identify any personal beliefs that prevent you from seeing the situation neutrally.
13. What’s important about this belief? What positive does it give you?
14. Adjust it: keep the positive meaning but make it more appropriate for the situation.
15. Think about what additional benefits this situation could bring.
16. Decide how you can adapt to the situation so that everything that happens feels under your control.
17. How will you take charge? What actions will you take to bring the situation to a logical conclusion?
18. Draw conclusions for the future.

Ideally, this process is best done with a coach or NLP professional, much like a diamond shines brightest in the hands of a master. Developing systemic reframing skills leads to leadership qualities, allowing you to influence not only your own life but also the lives of others and entire organizations. Once this strategy becomes part of your mindset, any crisis can become an opportunity for growth and wisdom.