-Reason for sub-optimal decision making?
-Reducing your empathy?
-Impeding the deep thought required to grapple appropriately with complex issues?
There is much encouragement to be had from those who think and value what we do. But there’s also potential for building in unnecessary blind spots from having homogenous groups.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting you seek out friends and colleagues who want a full-blown row out over every discussion. However, it is important to have people who see things differently and are able to discuss these topics well. Similarly, we have a duty to engage properly with our friends and colleagues when we see things differently. That word duty is not used lightly – if we want to prevent those around us from having naÏve or myopic views, we must be able to encourage them to think more deeply and broadly.
Which of your friends/colleagues brings ideas and approaches that you hadn’t thought of before? Spending more time trying to understand these things can bring insight that we might otherwise miss.
If you don’t have these people, try to build in reflection time for asking questions like:
-what would ____ think about this?
-how might I feel if I were ____?
-how does this affect ____?
(Insert someone from outside the group’s gender/ethnicity/orientation/social class etc.)
I promise you, it will help you to come to better decisions with fewer negative unintended consequences.
👀 Do you have anyone who challenges your thinking in a positive way?
🤷♂️ What lessons have you learnt about helping others think more broadly and deeply? Please add in the comments section below.