There seems to be an increasing divide amongst so many different groups. This group is for women only; that group is for C-Suite executives only; the other group is for people in this town only; and so on. While I recognize that there is a place for creating community among people like you, it also creates a division and can prevent you and the group at large from gaining perspectives different from your own.
Let Ideas Collide
In his weekly newsletter on LinkedIn, Greg McKeown talks about this.
“In a world of division and contention, it is tempting to surround ourselves with those who think just like us. But censoring dissent breeds blind spots.
Let ideas collide; only then does clarity emerge.
In business, teams that welcome diverse perspectives often find innovative solutions, while those that shut out differing views miss crucial insights. In life, relationships deepen when we create space for honest dialogue, even when it’s uncomfortable.”
While I have done my share of personal cleansing on social media for my mental well-being in the past few weeks, I still ensure I engage with and am part of diverse groups. I find great value in hearing the different views people have on the same subject because we have each lived our unique lives with vastly different experiences. There have even been times when I have spoken with someone who went through the same event I did but had a completely opposing experience. It is enlightening and humbling to have those discussions, and I have found them to open up entirely new ways of viewing a situation.
Building Diverse Teams for Better Solutions
Years ago, when I worked for a nonprofit, I was responsible for coordinating the efforts of a very large committee. Over several years, I worked hard to improve the diversity across all aspects of the makeup of the committee members so we could ensure we were approaching our work with innovative solutions and diverse viewpoints.
Avoiding the Echo Chamber
Don’t get stuck in an echo chamber in your business or mastermind groups. Instead, find the people who will challenge you and your views. As Ray Dalio says, “Great collaboration feels like playing jazz.” Go play some jazz.
Ponder This
- How often do you engage with people who have different viewpoints from yours?
- What benefits could arise from interacting with groups outside your usual circle?
- Who challenges your thinking, and how do they help you grow?
Books
- Newsletters by
- Greg McKeown
- Ray Dalio
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