Keep An Open Mind
In the workplace, and in our personal lives, we tend to come to conclusions and develop opinions quickly. We get attached to our conception of the matter at hand, believing we have the answer. Our reaction to others’ ideas can convey, “I’m right, you’re wrong.”
We can benefit from being less vested in insisting that we have THE right answer. Here’s why: many times, as we explore an idea more fully, better understand the details of a situation or dive deeper into the nuances of a particular subject, our opinion, wisely, shifts. If we’re firmly entrenched in our position, changing our mind may require more humility than we can muster and eating more crow than we have appetite for.
While you have an opinion, and may even advocate for it, still keep an open mind because what you think about a particular subject can, and should, shift as you learn more and see from different perspectives.
