Leading Lightly

Accept that there is always another point of view in every situation

Instructions

Learn what it feels like to be curious
Sit upright with your feet on the floor. Notice any sensations in your body. Now, think of a topic or person you’re curious to know about. As you’re in this state of curiosity, pay attention to what you’re feeling in your body. Describe this sensation so that you can recognize what curiosity feels like for you. Finally, relax and stop thinking about the topic or person. From now on, choose to be curious instead of needing to be right.
Loosen up on your lens by acknowledging that other lenses exist
If a situation isn’t going your way, look for other perspectives that help to interpret the situation. For example, if you’re arguing with someone about how to solve a problem, say to yourself, “What if there is another solution that’s better than mine? What if this situation has nothing to do with me being right or wrong?” Even if you don’t like these alternatives, just acknowledge that your perspective is only one of many.
Discover other people’s points of view
When speaking to someone, ask open-ended questions instead of Yes/No questions so that you can discover what’s on their mind. Then listen carefully while they are talking instead of waiting to jump in with a response.
Widen your lens beyond yourself
If you’re angry because of recent changes within your organization, take a step back and look at things from a broader rather than a selfish perspective. Ask yourself: Are these moves truly the best thing for the organization? Why were these decisions made? Then narrow your scope slightly and ask: How do these decisions benefit my team? Finally, you can narrow your scope to yourself by asking: How do these decisions affect me?