Learning and Growing in a World of Difference

So let’s be honest. The news is everywhere. Regardless of your news source, if you spend enough time listening to or watching, or reading only that one source, no doubt your perspective is further “locked-in”. When this happens, it becomes harder to see, learn, or even hear a differing perspective. It’s like taking your glasses off and trying to clean them but cleaning alone doesn’t change what you see. When you become locked in, what the rest of the world sees, you simply cannot see. Your locked-in perspective keeps you locked out from seeing and learning and even hearing from others. And others are a critical source of detail, perspective, and insight, as we continue to learn and grow.

I was recently in Texas where it is currently hot. I had a great time there and I met and worked with really great people. At work, I engaged a group of leaders in a discussion about growth, and change, and learning. We agreed that this “locked-in” perspective hinders and prevents our minds and our hearts from seeing things that are different from our current ways of thinking and believing. As a result, this further prevents us from new insights, and these new insights are critical if we are to adopt new and more effective ways of behaving with others. Further, it prohibits getting even greater results in the workplace. The “locked-in” perspective reinforces our limiting beliefs and our unconscious biases. And equally concerning, the locked-in perspective doesn’t allow us to see the impact of our filters which distort reality and impact all that we see. Conquering this locked-in perspective is the real problem needing a solution.

Not surprisingly then, in my conversations with that group of leaders, we discussed the importance of changing this locked-in perspective to one that is more open. We also acknowledged this is difficult and it requires moving from a place of familiarity and security to something that feels more uncomfortable, perhaps even like having a totally foreign experience. And we agreed, in a current society where differences are judged and weaponized, it may feel extremely raw and vulnerable. Equally exciting and hopeful though, this group of leaders concluded it was necessary for learning and for growth and critical to bring a renewed sense of collaboration and teamwork to the workplace.

If you’re a leader perhaps you’ve had trouble in a working relationship. Regardless of discussions you remain locked into your thinking and perspective unable to appreciate the perspective of another. How do you break through that locked-in perspective? How do you see from a lens you’ve not used before? How do leaders come together to collaborate and make decisions benefitting from those different perspectives?  Together, the leadership team and I agreed seeing from a differing perspective, developing a true sense of empathy, is badly needed in today’s workplace.

So what are some things leaders can do to change their locked-in perspective? First and most importantly find someone who is not like you, doesn’t think like you, and hasn’t had the same experience as you. Then engage in thoughtful conversation comprised of deep curiosity, exploring their perspective with endless questions. Lean into what you don’t understand and while not judging the content, explore more by asking more questions to thoroughly understand their perspective. While it is truly impossible to walk in another’s shoes, try to get as close as you can. Acknowledge where there are differences and seek to find places of commonality. And be ok with differences. It’s about understanding not agreeing.

In Texas, many insightful points were made and there was confirmation that doing what feels uncomfortable would most likely produce the greatest result, the deepest learning, and by far the most growing. To move from your locked-in perspective, where can you experience some conversational discomfort today?