Today I want to talk about applying and getting multiple perspectives in your life when faced with decision making or even simply forming and shaping an opinion that you hold.
Why apply multiple perspectives to any situation and what are they exactly?
In short, it is about taking on or accepting more than one point of view. It’s also about gathering further information than what you currently have at hand that will assist you in taking your next step/s.
Examples of these can be:
- Being faced with a challenge at work.
- Having to choose between two or more new jobs.
- Facing a life threatening illness.
- Deciding on whether to buy that new puppy.
- Deciding on which new car to buy.
- Deciding on which dentist to choose for cosmetic surgery.
- Being forced to choose between suppliers with whom you do business.
- Or any other situation where you are faced with more than one choice or important decision to make.
Can you think of any in your life right now?
What if I told you today that you had to have your two front teeth extracted for health reasons? And let’s say that I can substantiate or justify my information after much testing and analysis (I am the professional). Would you do it right away without any further questions or other perspectives? And let’s assume that you may feel that I’m qualified enough and thus trust me with the future of your two front teeth. Would you jump at the opportunity to remove them immediately? I would hazard a guess and say no or that you might agree rather reluctantly.
Why do I say that?
Well firstly, your two front teeth are important to you on both an aesthetic and functional level. You need them to function properly in your life, especially nutritionally.
So let’s assume for a moment that pulling those teeth is absolutely necessary due to circumstances beyond your control.
What do you do next? Do you just believe me and get it done as soon as possible?
I would say a very big and loud NO! Why?
- You have not gathered all the facts and information for yourself. You are trusting someone else wholeheartedly and perhaps even blindly.
- You have not heard the same message being reinforced by another professional (one just as competent as me).
- You have not felt that I perhaps know exactly what this means to you and how it will leave you feeling afterwards. In other words, this is a decision based purely on fact/s.
- You have not had enough time to think about this, to check in with your own self about how you feel about this decision and the impact it would have on your life.
- You have not asked anyone else what they think or what they would do, even if that is just another opinion or perspective.
So what does information gathering and multiple perspectives involve?
Firstly, opinions are just opinions even if they are based on fact. Opinions are interpreted by the giver of that opinion and often we take those opinions seriously and very personally even when they are not true! That opinion is influenced by that individual (or team’s) world view, their knowledge, their experience and ability to make sound judgements and decisions, especially if they are qualified professionals. Does that mean that there is no room for error or another opinion or perspective? Absolutely not.
From a personal perspective: the ability to take on or give multiple perspectives means that you are able to step out of your current set of ’shoes’ or circumstances in order to even slightly conceive or imagine what the other person may feel or experience at this moment and how their own worldview will influence what and how they feel. That’s easier said than done. Really getting what something is going through requires a very sound understanding of who they are and where they come from as well as an enormous amount of compassion even when they are in a destructive or negative headspace or I should say even more so then!
The impact of taking on multiple perspectives when dealing with others might mean that you may think twice before saying something or behaving in a certain manner generally or towards them. It means that you may be more compassionate about what they are going through even if it negatively involves you too. It means that you really understand the whole situation in its entirety and you are free of judgement or anger which may influence your behaviour and thoughts. It means that you have gathered more than sufficient information in the form of conversations with others, gathering facts and being fully aware of what your choice or decision involves and the impact upon your life and that of others.
If this is a personal choice or decision with little impact on others around you or it’s life threatening, the landscape changes slight. I would then check in with myself that I have enough information to equip me with the long term impact on my own life in order to avoid regret, depression, anger or resentment.
So let’s look at a guide or outline that will assist you in taking on more than one perspective of a problem or decision:
- Step 1: Gather information (as much as you can) - you can focus on what’s available. Ask yourself: “Is there anything I do not know about this right now?” Then act upon it or acknowledge it.
- Step 2: Use your gut-feel and your intuition or any other emotion you usually rely upon when making decisions. Don’t discard your inner knowledge and wisdom.
- Step 3: Be the cynic and the eternal sceptic - look at all the negatives with great caution and be objectively defensive when doing so. Think of all the reasons why this decision would fail and you will soon spot the weaknesses of this decision or plan because once you have identified them, you can prepare sufficiently in how to deal with them.
- Step 4: Now look at all the benefits especially when this is a serious or difficult decision or situation you are facing.
- Step 5: Find solutions to all the problems or gaps you have spotted. This is an opportunity to think outside of the box and to have some fun!
- Step 6: Now reassess where you are. You’ve done your homework by gathering facts, speaking to people, questioning and applying yourself thoroughly.
Once you have completed these steps you are ready to proceed in desicion making without any reservation or potential future regret. You will also be surprised at how much compassion and understanding you have gained in the process!
* Photo by nerovivo
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