Brain Based Bias?!

Ellen Weber has an excellent post today on Brain Based Business. As insightful as her post is the first comment by Ed Brenegar, is brilliant! 

“I find this true in my work with clients that the circle of relationships that they value is quite small and narrow. They are looking for affirmation. The problem is that if everyone you are close to thinks like you, is in the same social context as you, then you have also limited yourself as to where your products and services will most likely be marketed.”

He goes on to say on his blog: “If diversity is ever to be viewed as other than a political issue forced down the throat of the unwilling, and instead seen as a pathway to greater impact, it will require the development of the kind of character in people that enables them to foster better relationships with one another.”

What do you do to make sure you’re hearing opinions that differ from yours? What do you do when you hear opinions that differ from yours? 

Diversity applies to people, to places, to experiences. The more you have to draw upon the richer your life, and the greater your capabilities, will be!

Technorati tags: Business, Perspective, Diversity

Comments

[Trée]

Ann, another excellent post.

Several years ago I created a Listening Workshop. Although the workshop is a full-day event, I always start with two questions that take around thirty minutes to facilitate. After those first thirty minutes I always feel like I could stop at that point and the workshop has been a success.

Question one: Describe how you feel whenever someone really does not listen to you.

Question two: Describe how you feel whenever someone really does listen to you.

I give everyone as much time as they need to write down as many adjectives as they can to answer the two questions. I then go around the room and write all the "not listen" adjectives on a flip chart in red ink. I do the same for the "do listen" adjectives in green ink.

Both list usually contain between 30 and 50 adjectives. Then I hold up both list before the group and I tell them that in every listening situation, we are either giving the red list or the green list--to one degree or another--every time, everyday.

Then, I slowly read the words from the green list. I take my time. When I finish I ask the group, "If I told you, you could make someone feel this way, to give them this gift, touch them in this way, and that it would not cost you a single penny, would you do it?"

Listening, not hearing, but deep, true, sincere, non-judgmental, heartfelt listening is a gift of untold treasure.

Now that I have their attention, the real work of the workshop can begin.

In my humble opinion, this is where long lasting relationships begin.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox now. :-)

[Ann Michael]

Trée - all I can say is WOW! What a great exercise - and a great thing to keep in mind all the time!

[Trée]

Thanks Ann. Your blog inspires me.

[ellenweber]

Ann, I am intrigued by your questions here -- the two back to back questions have me off and thinking yet again! Thanks for raising them...

[Robyn McMaster]

Ann, to answer your question, I think it takes a little maturity to listen to others and especially to opposing views. When we hear a very thoughtfully expressed perspective that differs from ours, it helps us sharpen our own view. We tend to see issues as complex rather than as black and white.