Getting Different Perspectives

This post originally appeared at petechristianbooks.com

Getting different perspectives is very important. “It is a narrow mind which cannot look at a subject from various points of view.” — George Eliot (English novelist and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era.)

We are right. We know we are right and those that disagree are wrong.

We judge others assuming they are wrong or plain stupid. Often in reality, what this means is that we don’t understand how their reasoning works. Their different perspective arises from a set of facts that is different from our own.

Understanding that reasoning can help us to point out that the facts they are dealing with are wrong or incomplete. We can then discuss why their reasoning may be flawed. Of course, there’s the flip-side. Our own facts may be off and our reasoning is faulty. And we can adjust our position.

That’s why it is important to look at things from other perspectives.

When making plans or deciding on a course of action, it is always good to get different viewpoints from staff, colleagues and trusted advisors.

In that way we can get a full view of our options and potential problems that may be encountered.