Listen Beyond the Expected

We hear

What we want to hear

Unless we choose

To hear

What we do not want to

Hear

“That’s what I thought they’d say.”

“It confirmed what I was thinking.”

“I know what you mean.”

It is amazing how often we can predict?what others are thinking. It is surprisingly easy to do. Just so long as you stay on the surface. Avoiding truly understanding diverse viewpoints.

Digital is an incredibly powerful medium for reaching others. Just like all forms of power?it has the potential for tremendous good and also for wide-reaching harm.

The problem is not the technology, it is how we choose to use it.

Digital has the ability to incite because it can connect divergent perspectives?in an instant. Reaching across geographical boundaries. Extending beyond our usual like-minded social patterns, to surface ideas and perspectives that contradict our own.

As long as we choose to hear them.

Whether we are listening to others in face-to-face meetings or reading the chat?in online discussions, our brains?naturally amplify?ideas that align with our own while often filtering?out ideas that do not fit with our world view.

This neurological phenomenon?occurs for a very good reason. Confirmation bias?serves as an efficient way to process inputs because of the vast amount of information we are constantly exposed to. To form an unbiased decision we would have to critically evaluate every piece of information available, which is simply impractical, therefore our minds tend to seek out the information needed to form subconsciously desirable conclusions.

Which means we miss hearing the fainter signals.

Just like failing to hear an approaching vehicle?behind us, hearing only the perspectives that align with our own while dismissing others means we can fail to spot changes until it is too late.

An awareness of our brain’s natural bias enables us to change this.

Hearing the unexpected.

Digital Habit

Reflection: What are some ideas you strongly disagree with? What types of comments can sometimes antagonise you? How else might it be possible to view those comments? Think about the life circumstances that might lead someone to those beliefs. See if you can imagine yourself being in that situation and being led to have a different perspective to your own.

Conversation: Digitally extend your own thinking by going beyond the predictable. Tune in more fully to the perspectives of others by listening to their comments, whether it is what they say or type. Observe your response to ideas that do not align with your own. Is it possible that there is more to it? Might another approach to your own work?

Action: Take something you are working on and seek other opinions. Listen carefully for ideas and comments that you do not instinctively agree with. Explore further both through conversation and deeper reflection. In doing so identify an idea that did not initially sit comfortably with you but that you appreciate might have greater potential. If you cannot do this – reflect further until you can, as new possibilities always exist beyond the comfort of our own perspective. Take the idea and move it into action in a small way that enables you to test the approach, gaining greater comfort and?insight.

This is a chapter from our book Futurework – A Guidebook for The Future of Work

Inspire

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As a Futurist living on the edge of the world, I’ve presented on stages and screens across the globe from San?Francisco to South Auckland to Sydney.

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Facilitation is a complex process. In a complex world it’s only getting more complex. Fortunately it’s the complexity of facilitating that inspires the way we work.

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Adaptive. Digital. Collaborative. Diverse. Inclusive. If you look at the critical shifts happening within modern workplaces, they’re designed to enable organisations to become more responsive.

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