CHICAGO–Seeking to create more diversity in your credit union? Just how good are you at seeing two sides to every issue? One person is offering a test.
As Suzanne Lucas wrote on Inc.com, not everyone can see both sides to an issue, often instead seeing it as either my way or the wrong way. “And studies are showing that we're getting a lot more divided in our thinking,” added Lucas.
“You're not going to have true diversity in your business if you only listen to people who already agree with you,” wrote Lucas. “Lots of companies take political stands these days, but doing that literally kills your diversity--for any particular position you take you can guarantee that about half of the country disagrees with you. And disagreement is okay, it's that contempt is coming into play.”
Should you believe people on the other side of any issue, including issues inside the credit union, are evil, it’s “likely they are actually not and if you really sought to understand, (as Stephen Covey) says, you'd be able to understand them--even if you ultimately still disagree.”
Homework Assignment
Lucas offered this assignment to test your own diversity of thought.
“Take a topic for which you are passionate. It could be a political topic (I think person X is the best politician ever!) or a business one (I think telecommuting is the answer to engagement problems) and write down your argument,” suggested Lucas. “Now, take the opposite position (this is why person X should not be elected or in office work is the answer to engagement problems) and write an argument in favor of that position. You'll have to do some research. You may have to speak to some people you normally wouldn't speak with. You'll have to actually listen, and it will be hard.”
Lucas observed humans are really good at is believing everything that fits in our current world view and rejecting everything that doesn't, so trying to find out why people disagree with you can be more difficult than it appears at first glance.
“If you can make a coherent and well-supported argument for the other side, then congratulations--you open-minded and accepting. If you can't, go back and start over again,” wrote Lucas. “You may say, ‘There's no way! The other side is completely irrational!’ Chances are, they are not. And someone else is saying this about your favored position.”