Overcoming Entrenchment - YES we can!

 2020 … Oh, what a year! 

And as it is drawing to a close we have the opportunity for new beginnings and to leverage key learnings from the many challenges that have risen to the forefront over the past few months.

One of the biggest issues society is facing is the rift (great divide?) created by differing points of view and the deep entrenchment associated with these oppositional forces of opinions and ways of thinking. And, at the same time, we have seen some very positive change and momentum towards addressing injustices and shining the light on issues like systemic racism, harassment and gender equity. While there is still much to be done, we seem to be moving forward and taking steps to embrace diversity.

But there is an aspect of diversity we need to champion that will be essential to helping break down and break free from entrenchment. This will open up the possibilities of giving each other a chance to find common ground and build towards more cooperation and collaboration in shaping our future. This aspect is diversity of thought.

The Oxford Language Dictionary defines entrenchment as:

“the process or fact of an attitude, habit, or belief becoming so firmly established that change is very difficult or unlikely.”

Undoubtedly, 2020 has demonstrated the validity of this definition based on how difficult change has proven to be on so many fronts. However, change and its immense benefits are possible if we open ourselves to other “attitudes, habits and beliefs” in an attempt to discern and more fully understand the situations we are facing. This opening up to look for similarities more so than differences can provide the shift necessary to see each other differently and be more accepting. This video from Denmark provides a fascinating perspective in this regard:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD8tjhVO1Tc

Herein is the power found in diversity of thought – it allows and enables leadership to understand the situation from many different angles and integrate these perspectives for a more aligned solution, advantageous to all.

Business has seen the merits of greater diversity of thought with leaders like Jeff Bezos (Amazon) and Alfred Sloan (former CEO of General Motors) advocating for disagreement and encouraging dissenting points of view to gain deeper understanding and more robust decisions. The total shift in thinking that turned the failure of what was intended to be the ultimate super glue to be used in airline construction into the adhesive for 3M's Post-It Notes is an example of the huge potential diversity of thought can bring.

Our ability to overcome entrenchment and work through the many facets of change coming as 2020 closes out and new directions emerge in 2021 will be significantly enhanced and enriched if leaders in government and business, as well as all of us as individuals, can give diversity of thought a chance. As Telle Whitey, former CEO and President of the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology once said:

“Diversity drives innovation – when we limit who can contribute, we in turn limit what problems we can solve.”

Let’s all participate, contribute and welcome diversity of thought at work, in our homes and inn our communities … it will be amazing to see what problems we can solve!