Yesterday, I heard a U. S. Senator comment over the radio that he had concern about a particular Presidential nominee for a Cabinet-level post because this individual did not have a breadth of perspective.
What are the dangers of not having a breadth of perspective?
- Not recognizing that there is one more than one way to see an issue.
- Not understanding the reasoning or supporting evidence of another person’s argument or position.
- Not acknowledging that there may be differences between one point of view and another.
Without breadth of perspective, then one could say that you have a narrow view, or even tunnel vision.
How do you lead when you have tunnel vision?
It’s possible, but it usually involves pushing a particular agenda. This may be fine when you are in top-down organization such as the military. But it’s not necessarily helpful for a civilian position. Or leading a company.
Comprehending various viewpoints and developing a path to get to what’s next is a basic skill for many working in creative fields. Effective leaders need a breadth of perspective in order to create synergy between multiple ideas so that a new reality can emerge. It is only when viewpoints are considered and recombined that innovation can take place.
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