Collecting Perspectives

I recently heard two leaders talking about navigating some challenging circumstances with a team.  They were trying to help this team learn some new ways of communicating and working together, and in the process, one of them said, "As I was going through the situation, I really tried to focus on Collecting Perspectives."  When the other person clarified what they meant, they described a process of really listening in a way in which they tried to truly understand and could see from the perspective of the other individuals.

That phrase - Collecting Perspectives - has been rattling around in my head ever since I heard it! As I've been reflecting on it, I realize this is more than just a task I want to take on. I think this is actually a value I want to work to incorporate into my life.

Here's what I mean.  If Collecting Perspectives is a task I am going to accomplish, then the purpose of collecting those perspectives is simply to help me achieve an outcome I want.  I remain the primary subject of the task (me getting what I want). However, if this is a value I want to incorporate into my life, then it shifts the focus from me to the other person I am Collecting Perspectives from.  It allows me the honor of truly working to hear them, understand them, and listen to their hearts in a way that lets us connect and deepen our relationship, and it has the potential of opening me up and expanding my own heart and mind as I better understand them. Maybe this is just another way to be curious (as I've written about before), but it sure feels like a fresh approach that helps me embrace a deeper value I want to live by in my life.

How about you? How does this phrase strike you? Are there certain situations or settings that come to your mind where exercising this value of Collecting Perspectives could be helpful and allow you to expand relationships and connections with others?  Perhaps there is a certain person that you are having a difficult time with that might be impacted by embracing this approach?

Here's to being people who live the value of Collecting Perspectives!

Be Well,

Stephen

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