How to challenge conventional wisdom at the workplace?

Have you ever worked in an industry or been in a relationship where you thought there was no need for improvement? I mean it was just so completely perfect.?

I guess not.?

You are not alone.?

But the fear of confrontation, and the fear of being isolated or ostracized, makes us go along with many things that otherwise we might not have stood for. This is applicable both at work and at home. We usually feel safer, and validated with people where our views are shared. We are human, no shame in that.?

But there is a lot to be said about the perspectives you are missing when you refuse to challenge conventional wisdom. Safely said, all relationships and industries can do with some improvement.?

There are a few things that I practise in my limited space to do better, to challenge conventional wisdom.?

Model kindness and listen?

There are times when I feel “deja vu” - been there, done that sequence. What I realised very late was that it was probably the first time for the other folks, and while my suggestion/ solution might work - their ideas might completely blow my mind.?

So even when I am not feeling it, I model kindness and listen. Which means, I quiet down my mind which is saying - I know how this ends and this is what we can do. I listen and take an interest in other’s views.?

Now listening when you know the answer is a huge task. So here is what I do, I scribble points/ words/ comments in my notes when I am listening. Some of these points trigger another thought and I am able to engage in the conversation.?

There are times when I have stepped in to say, let’s listen to the others, because conventional wisdom too changes across generations and people. What’s obvious to them might not be to me, and vice versa.?

This spirit of being kind can help people work with each other’s wisdom without worrying about who’s winning on the scoreboard.?

Understand that anybody could do anything, but the world doesn’t work like that?

This took some time for me to articulate. Given that we lived in an equitable world, where everybody had similar/ same opportunities/ resources/ emotional support/ environment - then yeah, anybody could do anything. So conventional wisdom would be more or less similar across people.?

But we don't live in a world like that. We all have differing realities. And that is all the more reason to give others a chance to pilot something unheard of. If somebody on the team has a new idea, something that hasn’t been attempted before, the best way is to enable them to pilot a portion of it. Usually in such exercises, there is a lot more to learn than to lose. What helps is when you are able to articulate the things that they need to throw their weight against. What are the expectations from this project/ person/ role and how do they see that in their context??

As long as the filter is the endgame, differing realities will converge on similarities.?

Call out other’s highway or my way behavior

This is tough at work I know. But it is the best way to get others to sit up and lean in. Now this also means that they too will call you out on your rigidities as and when. And that’s crucial to challenging conventional norms and wisdom.?

This is a steep slope, because your blind spots too will be up for introspection.?

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Conventional wisdom automatically gets challenged when you list everything as an option. This means nothing is an outright no. Take considered risks, use a team member’s risk loving nature and enable their creativity. Categorise risks as aggressive, moderate or conservative and take a call on what you can do at what time.?

Challenging the status quo helps us grow and progress in a more holistic way. Lets see what we can add to each other’s thought processes.?