Are You Parroting or Thinking for Yourself?
Catherine Dixon
| Empowering Senior Leaders to Lead with Clarity, Impact, and Distinction | Executive Leadership Strategist
One of the major themes of modern times is the phenomenon of misinformation—or "fake news."
This isn't new. What's different now is that algorithms curate our content feeds, mirroring our identity back to us and reinforcing our existing views.
But here's the thing: we can choose how we consume information.
?? We can decide the quality, source, and scope of the information we absorb.
?? We can intentionally read opposing viewpoints to challenge our perspectives.
Take any significant event—the facts may be fixed, but the interpretation, spin, and meaning will vary wildly depending on who's telling the story.
So, how do we know what's true?
Can You Decipher Truth from Spin?
We often rely on soundbites, headlines, and viral posts—but without context, history, and nuance, these can be dangerously misleading.
Think about a recent social interaction: If a well-known leader taps someone in the midriff, does it signal camaraderie? Or is it a power move to assert dominance?
The answer depends on your worldview—what you believe will shape what you see.
Are You Unintentionally Spreading Misinformation?
It's not just about external news—we do this in our personal and professional lives too.
Recently, a colleague warned me about someone: "Watch out, a nightmare tour de force."
But when I met this person? I experienced someone confident, articulate, strong-willed, respectful, and open to discussion.
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Had I not met them, I might have blindly accepted that first description.
The example above is parroting—repeating opinions from those we trust without questioning or verifying. We do it because their worldview aligns with ours, or because we assume they must be right.
But here's the risk: If we adopt someone else's judgment without firsthand experience, we create bias before the interaction happens.
Breaking Free from Parroting
So, what do you do when a friend or colleague dislikes someone and suggests you should feel the same?
? Recognize that their experience is valid—for them.
? Understand that their perception may not match your reality.
? Stay open-minded and form your own opinions.
Our tribal instincts drive us to bond through shared beliefs—but when loyalty to friendships overrides personal discernment, we risk adopting narratives that aren't ours.
?? How often do we judge someone before we even meet them?
?? How often do we let others' biases shape our own interactions?
Next time, before you accept a story as truth, ask yourself: Is this my own experience, or am I just parroting what I've been told?
We published a short audio story about this called " Misinformed" Link below
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