Perspective Taking

“I’ve always felt that a persons intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic.”

– Abigail Adams

Perspective Taking entails considering various points of view or assumptions about a situation; seeking alternative options and choices.

The willingness and ability to step back from the situation and consider another point of view can be developed. Stepping back to take perspective may be momentarily stressful, but it may open the door for creative thinking. Increasingly complex issues in life require multiple perspectives to fully work with them. If perspectives are limited, then so is the ability to understand the situation, thus limiting options.

Learning Perspective Taking is a click away at EQDashboard.com.

If you or someone with whom you work exhibits these behaviors, EQDashboard.com provides a remedy:

• Using one way thinking and never challenging it

• Avoiding those whose views are different from your own

• Being neither creative nor flexible in addressing complex challenges

• Avoiding new experiences especially those that might challenge your way of thinking

• Assuming you are always right

• Rejecting ideas from people you do not know well

Action learning tips and learning assignments on the job are a click away at EQDashboard.com.

You might also consider (a sampling of suggestions from EQDashboard.com):

Rasley, Alice. The Power of Point of View: Make Your Story Come to Life. Palm Coast Florida: Writers Digest Books, 2008.

Senge, Peter, Rick Ross, Bryan Smith, Charlotte Roberts, and Art Kleiner. The Fifth Discipline Field Book: Strategies and Tools for Building a Learning Organization. New York: Doubleday, 1994.

Shermer, Michael. The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies–How We Construct Beliefs, and Reinforce Them as Truths. New York Times books, Henry Holt, 2011.