Happy Columbus Day!  On October 12, 1492 Columbus arrived in the Americas to explore a whole New World.  By nature someone who chooses a career of exploring would need to have an open mind.  In writings about the characteristics of an effective leader, having an open mind is usually listed in the top ten.  So, what is an open mind, how do you get one and keep it open, if that is possible?  Good question for this week’s newsletter.

Happy exploring!

Diane

What does it mean to have an open mind?  Most dictionaries will define an open mind as being receptive to new or different ideas or opinions.

So, why is it difficult to have this open mind?  One reason may be our past success. Our current beliefs have helped us get to where we are today, and if you like where you are, you do not want to get rid of those beliefs.  Let’s take a look at some beliefs we held tightly as a society but were later proven wrong:

• The earth is flat
• Our personality is shaped by our environment only
• The size of the universe is constant and not expanding

While scientists have proven all three of these beliefs to be untrue, we fought very hard for their existence.  So what old ideas are you holding onto?  I thought I would share a few of mine:

• It was best to be understood first and get your point across quickly than to hold your opinion for last so you could listen to others first.
• Most problems existed with people and not systems.  I didn’t understand what a system was until Edward Deming’s work with systems thinking.
• My culture and upbringing was the correct way.  Everyone else was strange or wrong.

Employees, co-workers and family members enjoy being with someone who maintains an open mind.  As a matter of fact, they list this characteristic as critical to a successful leader. If you are not continually trying new concepts or ideas you are not growing as an individual or organization.  And the saying goes…if you are not growing you are dying.  So how do we get more of an open mind?  I want to share some of my insights from years of trying:

• Seek first to understand before being understood.  Covey got it right in his 7 Habits book.  Even though we all know it to be true, it can be so difficult to practice.  What I have learned to do is force myself to go last in a discussion.  Sometimes I will write my idea down so I don’t lose it and this will open myself up to listening. Other times I sit on my hands to remind myself to listen first.  What is so great about this concept is that I often change my opinion after hearing such brilliant ideas from others first.
• Ask yourself what is good about an idea before critiquing it. I was working with a group of doctors when someone suggested this idea and I really liked it.  The idea is when with someone or in a group an idea is given, you must first say how it has merit or why it may work before you are given the opportunity to say why it won’t work.  It forces the brain to use a higher level of thinking before its “safekeeping” thinking.
• Reflect on what you have tried in the past that has now become a habit.  It is helpful to think back to a time you tried something new but you were uncomfortable. You decided that the idea had merit so you may have tried it on a small scale and found it to be successful and now it has become a part of your everyday life.  For me, I recently became a great fan of Skype. When my brother introduced it to me,  I didn’t want to join, I didn’t want to buy a camera for my monitor and so I thought it was one more piece of technology I didn’t want to learn.  Wow, was I wrong!  I am now Skyping my daughter several times a week while she studies in Spain. 

Question for You:

Would your employees, peers, boss or family members consider you to be open minded?

Action for You:

Try to listen first, find merit in another’s idea and remember when you were successful trying something new in the past.