It takes skill and courage to value ideas that differ from your own. Interestingly, while few do it well, those who listen and learn from others tend to transform their circles. They disagree with amazing tone skills and in so doing, inspire others to express novel ideas that may otherwise never surface.
Progressive thinkers often deep dive into research on both sides of an issue, and by engaging opposite views, they inspire people from many backgrounds and experiences.
The opposite is also true. Hebbian thinkers insist on one way only – theirs. Have you see it happen? They bombard others with attack ads, negative opinions and tired routines that hold back progress. Sadly, Hebbian thinking literally changes your brain waves. Physical and psychological changes occur in the brain due to narrow focus and lack of stimuli that comes ideas that differ from your opinions. Over time, these changes in your dendrite brain cells make it harder to embrace change. Can you see why some people resist brilliant innovations that would improve their lives and yours?
Einstein solved complex problems and transformed thinking, by factoring insights from opposite sides of his original views. You?
Check out these views on the other side of interesting topics. How many opposites from that list of 27 controversial topics could you research to support equally on both sides?
Tap other people’s insights to refresh thinking on opposite sides of issues in 5 ways:
1. Affirm another person’s thoughts before sharing your own differences. Use words or body language to show you heard and valued the other person’s perspective.
2, Thank people for different ideas presented and then show how you’ll try them out or consider them further.
3. Share personal experiences respectfully as another angle to think about the topic together with others who differ.
4). Ask two-footed questions rather than offer your own opinion too fast. For instance, you might ask a person: Have you thought about…? What if …? Could another possibility be …?
5). Add unique ideas to the mix – to inspire with confidence. Trigger a good discussion with insights opposite your own original ideas to learn from facts on different angles. Then support ideas on both sides with your own experiences and concrete examples you’ve observed from a different view.
What tips would you add to help people engage hot topics without heated shout-outs. How would you inspire others to avoid Hebbian thinking in favor of creating high impact minds who consider diverse perspectives.
Related tool: Yearly planner with brain boosters and prompts to reboot your brain so that you tap and develop hidden and unused capabilities.
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Ahhh – but you do them so well in conversations on any toipic, Ramana. Did it always come easy?
I am sure that it must be as effective. I simply do not have the occasions to use such techniques any more. I am now watching the butterflies and birds full time! They do not need any such techniques!!
rummusers last blog post..Realities Of The Past.
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It’s been a while since I thought of the six hats and I too strongly advocated these, Ramana. Lately, I select the hats of multiple intelligences – and invite people to lead with their stronger talents and develop their weaker, by learning from others in the circle:-). It’s certainly another version of the same idea — and it works wonders to solve problems in groups. What do you think?
I used to advocate the six hats technique of Edward DeBono. It worked like a charm.
Under the white hat, everyone is looking for facts, information, what we have, what we need, what questions have we asked, how do we get the information.
Red hat: permission to put forward your emotions, your intuition, without having to justify or explain it.
Black hat is critical: what is wrong, the risks, the downside, why it may not work.
The yellow hat: values, benefits.
The green hat: creative, new ideas, possibilities, alternatives and so on.
The blue hat is the organizing hat: summary, outcome.
The point is everyone is wearing the same hat at the same time. That’s parallel thinking. That’s important. Let me give an example. In a normal meeting, we may have someone who is against the idea being discussed. Normally, that person will spend the whole meeting attacking the idea. With the hats, under the black hat, he or she will be encouraged to be as critical as he or she can possibly be. Then, when it’s the turn of the other hat, he’s expected to look for value. And if he says, ‘I can’t see any value’, and everyone else is seeing value, then he’s seen to be stupid. So everyone is challenged to use their brain fully.
rummusers last blog post..Realities Of The Past.