Like something straight out of a sci-fi book, people frequently see the same thing at the same time in completely different ways. We've all been to meetings that participants later describe in such different ways you wonder if you were there together. This happens because people see and hear through their personal filters, with their own assumptions, in their own language. When I work with groups, I always ask people to move to a different side of the room halfway through. This ensures each person see (and hears) things from at least one other point of view. When they compare notes and debrief, they have a wider perch to report from.
Are you inclined to dismiss alternative perspectives or facts that don't fit your case? When you can't see what others see it's easy to become defensive and send the signal to back off. While occasionally that's required, if people around you aren't listened to, they might stop offering. A former mentor used to say, "Default to curious, never defensive." Sometimes leaning into new information helps you make sense of it all. Years ago I worked with new employees in the service department of a large company. At the end of their first week of work, armed with a list of answers to common issues, we had them answer live calls, many from irate customers. After only a few, the new employees quickly grasped how much they needed to learn. From then on, they were very receptive to advice, coaching, and lessons from coworkers and instructors on how to handle difficult situations. By relinquishing their defensiveness, they understood where to begin.
In Naming Elephants, Sue Hammond and Andrea Mayfield write, "Ignorance and knowledge grow at the same rate because the more you know, the more you know you don't know." If you ask for a wide range of views, especially from those beyond your usual circles, you increase your potential to see what you can't see. The more connections you make with people, concepts, experiences, and the environment, the more pathways to learning you create.
Email
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Buzz Up!
LinkedIn
