What if Your Perspective is Wrong? (And How to Fix it)

Perspective and point of view are far more important than we usually give them credit for. 

How we see something will drive the actions we take. 

For example...

If you see something as right, you’ll likely move toward it. 

If you see it as dangerous, well, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand most people will typically move away. 

The question is, how do we know we’re correct in our perspective? And what if we’re wrong?

The short answer is: we don’t. 

And being wrong can be devastating. 

Just ask the people that launched “New Coke”. Consider, by looking at and understanding other perspectives, we can begin to see what we’re really dealing with, what others are dealing with and get closer to what’s holistically correct and workable. 

An idea called “Six Hat Thinking”, developed by Dr. Edward de Bono in the 80’s was originally designed to help companies think more effectively. In other words, learning how to see things from multiple perspectives by “trying on various hats”. 

The Six Hat technique is a way to simplify perspectives. We typically look at perspectives as point or counterpoint. Right or wrong. Good or bad. Justice or injustice. In fact, perspectives and points of view can be near infinite. 

Take a simple coffee cup. A perspective from one side shows a handle. And from the other, a curved ceramic. 

Here’s the thing: they are both 100% correct. And correct at the exact same time. However, they’re both also incomplete. 

To accurately assess the coffee cup, not only would  you need those two perspectives, you’d also need perspectives from every single point in and around the cup. Another way of thinking about it is: if we never include and consider other perspectives we’ll never have, or even have a chance of knowing, the whole Truth. That’s a simple cup! 

de Bono realized this complexity increased when talking about things less tangible than coffee cups —like launching your new offer, ideas, politics or even a particular strategic direction. And he came up with 6 perspectives or “hats” to try on in an attempt to see things from various other angles. 

• A white hat is looking at facts and information. 

• Red is more feelings and emotions. 

• Black is negative, classic. 

• Yellow is positive. 

• Green is creative, looking for new ideas. 

• And blue is about the big picture and considering all factors. When looking at an opportunity, an issue, a disagreement, anything -- you can intentionally put on another hat to see if from a different side, or different point of view. 

Done right, you get closer to something that is correct, or at least more workable. 

We’ve been having a lot of fun trying these different “hats” on as part of the #NoMatterWhat Insider. Unpacking more details of how they work and how best to use them. It seems now could be an especially important time to use this technique, or an exercise like it. 

What happens is, when we’re too attached to our own perspective it becomes a belief. Beliefs that may become “absolutely” true for us, even if they’re not “true” (or accurate) in the world. And it’s possible we may become painfully attached to them. Just look at the global political climate right now to see how polarizing these beliefs and perspectives can be. 

I invite you to look at your ideas, your ideals, your direction, your business from your own, as well as  other perspectives, to try to gain a real understanding of perspectives and realities that may differ from your own. Not only will it drastically improve your results, but it’s a way of finding common ground, restoring communication and integrity, and perhaps the only way we’ll find what’s right and True in this world, together.