The Executive’s Guide to Flourishing: Multiple Perspectives

When did you last challenge yourself and expand the way you perceive the world around you?

We invite you to explore the transformative power of embracing multiple perspectives through a simple yet profound exercise. 

The exercise will hopefully shift something fundamental in the way you approach life's complexities and set the scene for an insightful revelation in your approach to understanding.

Please make sure you are safe and stationary before we begin, and not driving or operating machinery of any kind. 

 Seeing Perspectives

As you stand or sit comfortably wherever you are right now, I invite you to look straight ahead. 

I would like you to focus on what's directly in front of you. 

Without moving your head, take in all the objects you can within your direct field of vision.

This is your current perspective. Let's call it view A. 

Now let's turn 180 degrees clockwise. You are now looking in the totally opposite direction than you were before. 

Absorb what you see here.  Again, focus on what's directly in front of you.  Take in as many objects as you can within your direct field of vision, without moving your head.

This is your new perspective, let's call it view B.  Now notice what's different, what's changed, what's new and what's remained from view A.

Now depending on the room, you are in, this new angle, view B, may hold different information, different objects.

This represents different views, different perspectives and insight.  Notice how different your two perspectives were.

Arguing Your View

Now imagine if view A and view B were different people, and they were debating their respective views. 

Each one is often tempted to attach wholly to their own view and argue passionately that what they could see was correct, and what the other could see was blatantly wrong. As they can't see it.

The challenge here is as is often the case, both parties stick to their view alone or at best see the debate as an either or. 

Either your view is right or mine is right, and then they have a long debate or argument over which is the best view. 

This is how most people see the world, from their own perspective, through their worldview, their truth. 

This is understandable to a point, as in their experience it is both subjectively and objectively true. 

However, the bit that most people overlook is that their view is both, true and partial. 

The Coastal Café Scenario

Now let go of the image of your actual room, and imagine you're seated in a beautiful coastal cafe high up overlooking a beautiful sandy beach.

The air is clear and fresh, with the scent of the sea mixed with the amazing aroma of fresh ground coffee and freshly baked bread. The sound of chatter and laughter filled the room. 

Imagine View A's perspective included a long wall broken up by evenly spaced, tall, floor to ceiling French windows.  And next to the wall and doors were five wooden tables with different sized groups of young people on them, with a waiter walking by serving their food.

Through the large windows there is a view of the cliff edge overlooking the amazing beach. And the sea below with swimmers and surfers enjoying the waves. 

This is an accurate description of what view A can see; thus, it is true, but it is only part of the whole picture. 

Now imagine what B could see.  They are looking in the exact opposite direction to view A.

View B can see mushroom-coloured walls adorned with beach themed artwork.  They can see four tables. Two are empty and freshly cleaned, and the other two have older couples on them. One couple with a dog. 

At the right edge of their view is the main entrance to the cafe, and the car park is visible through the glass of the door.  To their left is the kitchen service counter, a fire extinguisher and first aid kit.

Over the counter, you can just see the three chefs at work and a fresh delivery of vegetables being unloaded.  This is an accurate description of what view B can see. Thus, it is true, but it is still only part of the fuller picture.

 A New Part of the Whole

Now go back to the actual space you're in, and let's take in a new part of the whole.  This time let's move just 90 degrees clockwise. Welcome to view C.  Each twist you make reveals a new landscape, even if you're still in the same room. New details emerge, new objects appear, whilst others disappear.  You're compiling a more comprehensive understanding of your surroundings piece by piece.

Now make one last turn, another 180 degrees.  Unveiling View D.  It is another unique perspective.  Some objects and things may be common, but we are seeing them from a different perspective.  You see, every angle you've looked from held its truths about the room, each one valid, yet each one partial. 

Instead of views of a room, in reality we share views of a situation, a problem, an opportunity, or our view of the world.

A Multidimensional View

What happens when these views conflict, when one perspective seems to challenge or negate another? The reality is, they're all fragments of a bigger picture.

By recognising the limitations of our singular viewpoints, we open ourselves to a deeper, multidimensional understanding.  In the world of decision making, this isn't just beneficial.

It's essential.  Leaders, innovators, creators, they thrive by integrating diverse perspectives.

It is this mosaic of insights that allows for greater understanding. Informed decisions, empathic leadership, and innovative problem solving. 

The challenge. It is human nature to cling to our personal narratives.  Our beliefs, values, knowledge, and experiences are etched into our identities, and they dictate the view we hold.

Breaking away from this requires conscious effort, an openness to question what we know, and the wisdom to seek understanding beyond our own reality. 

Overcoming Challegnes

Imagine if the simple challenge we faced was how to get out of our imaginary coastal cafe in an emergency.

Imagine a driver has misjudged parking badly and has crashed into the cafe. Luckily, the driver and passengers reacted quickly and jumped out of the car before it caught fire. 

This leaves our diners with the challenge of how to escape from the cafe.  The person with view B would have run for the main entrance, but now that is blocked by the crashed car.

The person with view A has opened the large French windows to look for an escape route but is faced only with building the courage required to jump off the cliff into the sea below. 

Meanwhile, View C can see the service delivery door at the back of the kitchen, which is not at all visible to the people with View D, B, or A.

If they shared information and were willing to hold their view more lightly, as true and partial, they may quickly come to the more effective, faster and safer solution and join the person with View C and walk calmly out the back door. 

If they were able to integrate their views quickly, they might even grab the first aid kit too, so they could help people after getting out safely.

Unlocking New Perspectives Through Development

This is why integral meta-theory, and integrating vertical and horizontal development, are so effective in guiding us to unlock new perspectives, enriching our understanding, and giving us that edge in life's many arenas. 

In the simplified room example that we've just explored, the perspectives were just 90 degrees different from each other on the horizontal plane.

If we wanted an even fuller picture, a more whole, less partial picture, we would have to include the view looking up and looking down.  So, we have a fuller picture of the interior. 

But we haven't yet considered a view from the outside, let alone the views from the outside from each perspective of the points of the compass, north, east, south, and west.

With each new perspective we take, and accept as true and partial, we can begin to integrate those views and create a more whole, less partial view of the situation. 

As you reflect on this, think about situations in your work and life where a shift in perspective occurs. would provide fresh insight.

True And Partial

How would seeing different perspectives as true and partial help you? 

How might an openness to other's views transform the understanding you have of the challenges you face or the opportunities for growth and innovation? 

This exercise is simple in its essence but is profound in its implication.

Understanding that our views are true and partial.  That answers aren't always either or.

Our ability to take and integrate different views, is a game changer.

It is a reminder that wisdom lies not just in the certainty of what we know, but in the exploration of the vastness we don't. 

Embrace Multiple Perspectives

Embracing multiple perspectives doesn't just add to our understanding, it multiplies it. 

Being able to see and appreciate different perspectives transforms our ability to understand others. 

Our ability to integrate those perspectives further transforms our ability to deal with the complexity of life.

Thank you for joining us in this experiential journey within the Executive's Guide to Flourishing. 

We hope it sparked a curiosity and an eagerness to embrace the plethora of perspectives that life offers. 

Until next time, keep exploring, keep questioning, and most importantly, keep developing. 

May multiple perspectives enable you to flourish in all aspects of your life, both professionally and personally.