The Surprisingly Simple Thing You Need To Do To Boost Your Career

Henry David Thoreau famously said:

"It's not what you look at that matters; it's what you see."

How you view the world—what is and what could be—can greatly impact the trajectory of your career. It's the difference between those who blindly accept things as they are, and someone whose unique perception creates a vision of what's possible.

Those who possess the ability to see beyond the status quo of situations, products, people, and ideas are the in-demand innovators and creative thinkers companies and clients most value.

Fortunately, with practice, you can shift and enhance your powers of perception. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

First, start paying attention

It should go without saying that perception begins with our ability to truly "see." Though it can be tempting to zone out during your commute or seemingly mundane tasks, try to pay attention to details and subtle nuances. Has anything shifted? Do you notice any patterns? When you shake up your routine, you increase your level of awareness, which can fuel your imagination and creativity and turn observations into actions.

Ask, "What if...?"

A friend of mine likes to say that asking What if...? leads to Let's try.... In a professional sense, asking this question can open up previously unknown (or considered) possibilities or solutions. It also becomes a positive path for exploration, for even if an attempt "fails," you'll gain insight you wouldn't have if you hadn't tried.

Say "Yes, and..."

A basic tenant of improvisational comedy is "Yes, and..." thinking, which suggests that a participant should accept what another participant has stated and then expand on that line of thinking. If a partner fails to do so, the game—and their communication—falls apart. So frustrating! When you embrace the concept of "Yes, and..." in your career, you'll naturally lose some ego and become more open, which helps you build on ideas, strengthen your relationships, and foster collaboration.

Relive your high school debate class

Remember when you were asked to defend the other side of a debate, the one in which you disagreed? That exercise forced you to move beyond your preconceived biases and beliefs to consider alternative points of view. And because you then needed to make a compelling argument, you inadvertently increased your understanding of both sides of an issue. You gained clarity. You were able to reframe things. The same principles apply in your career: the more you can see all sides of an issue, the better able you are to find solutions.

Invite a contrarian to lunch 

To make significant career progress, you must do something that initially might feel wrong or counterintuitive: actively seek out differences. Yes, it can be scary. And yes, it requires you to take action and put yourself out there. But when you welcome and engage with those who possess views contrary to your own,  you change your environment and open your mind to new worlds. Having someone who will challenge you to dig deeper and play devil's advocate can help you shape your thoughts and methodologies in ways you could never do on your own. Does someone make you think, even if at first you disagree? You're on the right path.

Finally, be like Sting and Shaggy

At first glance, pairing the former frontman of The Police with a Jamaican reggae artist might seem like an oddity. But when you dive a little deeper, you'll find that each has been influenced by Caribbean sounds and shares a deep-rooted love for Jamaica: Shaggy's birthplace and where Sting wrote "Every Breath You Take." And more importantly, it's precisely why this unlikely duo works beautifully together.

When you combine two seemingly disparate things, you'll often find something special emerges. In the business world, it's the juxtaposition of ideas, the mashup of styles, the hybrid of ideas that can create an entirely new category, product or service.

And when you become known as the person who effortlessly connects the dots and sees possibilities where others do not, you'll be valued for your insightful perception.

This article was first published on Forbes.com.

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?To elevate your voice and engage the people who matter most to you, work with Amy Blaschka, a ghostwriter and co-founder of Park City Think Tank.

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