Being Open-Minded in the Workplace

Being open-minded is important in the workplace because it leads to improved innovation, increased productivity, happier employees, and idea creation. If team members open their minds, it is the right mix for creating a great work environment. Members of the team should be open to hearing and encouraging other perspectives; we all have complimenting experiences or skills. Every skill is important and it often takes being willing to listen to others.

Debate is a great way to introduce new ideas into the workplace. What should the new office look like? How do you suggest that we achieve this month's goal? Whatever the question, it leads to dialogue and differences of opinions. It is an opportunity for everyone to be comfortable speaking up in the workplace. It is during these times that the boldest ideas are expressed and innovation happens. It is important though to monitor heated debates so that they don’t escalate to full blown shouting matches; one way to address this is to define parameters such as, no raised voices, aggression or personal attacks.?

Being open-minded is a part of the organization’s culture and having a safe space, where people feel comfortable speaking up, leads to a dynamic office culture. A corporate culture of contributing and collaborating is essential, and it is important not to just shut down bad ideas, but instead be encouraging, and actively creating opportunities for staff to contribute. Remembering that new ideas and perspectives should be at the helm of everything done in the workplace.

At Lishawns Consulting we foster open-mindedness. We train our staff to listen; listening is a skill. For those who find it difficult to be a good listener, it is important to invest in professional development workshops that teach on sharpening this skill. It is a worthwhile investment. Our CEO always says that we have two ears and one mouth for this purpose. We encourage you to be open-minded and use your listening skills in your workplace.