Your View Isn’t the Only View
Great leaders know their perspective is just part of the picture.
I am a minimalist at heart. I like simple color palettes and appreciate beautiful and natural materials. So when I had a chance to replace the area rug in my living room, I picked a cream-colored wool rug that spoke to my soul. It was beautiful.
But… just a few weeks after it arrived, our young golden retriever, Rosie, found an old firecracker in my son Scott’s room. You know, the kind filled with black, rug-staining gunpowder. And then, for reasons I don’t understand (she’s not talking), Rosie decided the new rug was the perfect place to play with this treasure.
Standing there staring at my ruined rug, I had one of those obvious-in-hindsight moments: light-colored rugs and dogs do not belong together.
Of course, the signs were there all along. But I wasn’t seeing the whole picture; my desire for what I wanted had obscured what was practical.
We are all capable of making decisions that feel right in the moment but don’t hold up to reality in the longer term. That’s why when it comes to making important decisions, it makes sense to take a step back and make sure we have enough perspective before moving forward.
Why Perspective Matters
Leaders face bigger challenges than deciding what color area rug to buy. On any given day, they’re developing business strategies, managing operating budgets, communicating with multiple stakeholders, running meetings, and developing their teams.
With so much coming at them, it’s natural to make assumptions along the way.
But it gets worse. The higher we rise in an organization, the easier it becomes to assume our perspective is the complete picture. People may become less willing to challenge our thinking, and over time, it becomes harder and harder to notice what we might be missing.
The result? Change initiatives can flounder in execution, despite how exciting they may have felt in the senior leadership meeting. New products can roll out without adequately addressing frontline employees' concerns or the customer experience. A missed internal communication can spark widespread confusion or product hiccups.
The list goes on and on. But the truth is, most of these unfortunate happenings are not caused by bad intentions. Rather, they're caused by gaps in perspective.
Different People Experience the World Differently
One reason I value the Enneagram so much is that it reminds us that we each see the world through our own lens. Two people can sit in the same meeting, hear the same conversation, and leave with completely different impressions.
An Enneagram Eight leader may focus on whether people are being transparent.
A Six may notice potential risks and unanswered questions.
A Two may pay attention to how people are feeling.
A Three may focus on inefficiencies impacting results.
A Nine may notice where agreement exists and where tension is emerging.
The gift of the Enneagram isn't in simply understanding your type. It's recognizing that your perspective is not the only valid one in the room.
How to Expand Your Perspective
The good news is that perspective isn't a personality trait. It's a skill that can be developed and strengthened. Here are a few suggestions:
Assume You Don’t Have the Full Picture
Before reaching a final conclusion, ask yourself: What might I be missing?
That simple question creates space for curiosity and helps prevent us from mistaking our perspective for the whole truth. If I had asked myself that question before ordering the cream-colored rug, I’d have saved myself a lot of aggravation!
Seek Input From People Who See Things Differently
It's easy to take advice from people who think the same way we do. But it’s far more valuable to get input from those whose role, experience, personality, or perspective differs from ours.
And when you do, really listen. Not to persuade them to see things your way or defend your position. Simply to understand what they see that you may not.
Some of the most valuable insights you’ll gain will come from perspectives you’d rather not hear.
Look for Data While Holding Your Opinion “Loosely”
Strong leaders have opinions. Effective leaders are willing to test those opinions against reality.
In The Leadership Continuum, we encourage participants to challenge assumptions, seek objective data, and look for evidence that may contradict their initial conclusions.
Leaders are frequently surprised by what they learn when team members have the chance to share their experiences. The data may reveal blind spots, challenge assumptions, or confirm concerns that weren't previously apparent. It’s one of the primary reasons we often administer team surveys with our clients.
An added benefit of this practice is that the team is often grateful for the chance to share what they’ve been seeing, thinking, and experiencing, especially when they haven't had another avenue to do so.
Holding your opinion loosely doesn’t make you indecisive. It makes you adaptable.
Work with a Coach
A good coach doesn't tell you what to think. They help you examine how you're thinking.
They ask questions you may not ask yourself.
They challenge assumptions that have gone unquestioned.
They uncover blind spots and alternative ways of viewing a situation.
Often, the breakthrough isn't finding a new answer; it's seeing the situation through a different lens. Simply hearing yourself say something out loud can reveal a perspective you hadn't considered before.
Leadership Through a Wider Lens
The leaders I admire most have a knack for staying curious. They ask questions, seek input, and remain open to the possibility they may be missing something.
Because perspective isn't about changing your mind. It's about being open to considering other points of view before making a decision. When we do that, we make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and become more effective leaders.