Evan Carmichael Top Header about About About facebook Twitter YouTube Google+

A Matter of Perspective


Guest post by: Lee Colan
Become an Author

Free PDF Download
What’s Your Compelling Purpose? - By Lee Colan

Name: Email:


Sometimes a new perspective can hit you on the head a la “I could’ve had a V-8!” For me, it happened recently when I had the good fortune of working with a intern from my children’s school. Her name is Jordan Denniston, and she is a high school junior. Although still young in years, Jordan is quite wise in spirit. As I reflected on the battling perspectives of the recent Presidential campaign and my own, more mundane challenges of perspective, Jordan’s thoughts below helped me relearn an important leadership lesson.

Maybe you've heard the parable of the elephant. There are six blind men who are placed around an elephant and given different parts to touch. The first man touches the tusk, and feeling the smooth, rounded edges, confidently says “This is a club.” The second man grabs the elephant's leg, and noticing the shape and density, he perceives that what he is holding is a pillar. The third man takes hold of the tail, and thinks, “Surely, this is a rope!” Another man takes the ear of the elephant, and is confident that what he is holding is a fan. The fifth man leans against the side of the elephant, and states “This is a wall.” Yet another man feels the same elephant's trunk, and thinks “This is a tree trunk!”

You could even add in the narrator of the story, who obviously must have been sighted. How different is his point of view than that of the blind men?

This parable has often times been used to explain different world views, but it also provides a powerful metaphor for how we look at everything, everyday. .

Our world is filled with differences. As the saying goes, they are what make the world go round. Denying the differences is naďve and is seen as incredible by others. Imagine the blind men arguing. How would the man who believed he was against a wall look arguing against the man that was certain that he was holding a rope to the man who could see? All it would take would be for one of the two men to patiently guide the other to his perspective, and vice versa. The best leaders listen to understand others before making decisions. As leadership guru, Stephen Covey says, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood. If you don't listen, you don't learn. They also have to be willing to change their opinion even if it's uncomfortable… and all learning generally occurs when we are uncomfortable.

Any of the men in the parable could have tried to defend why they thought they were right. They could have described the shape that they were holding, the texture, and maybe been able to convince each other that maybe they weren't holding what they thought they were.

We're faced on a daily basis with issues that require us to see someone else's perspective. If you don't see the other person's perspective, then you aren't being fair to others, and that will be noticed. Part of being a leader is stepping out of your comfort zone in order to show others your perspective, and also being willing to change your perspective. It gives you more options and more opportunities as a leader when you are able to look at things in more than one way. When you change the way you look at things, things change the way they look.

Being a leader in today’s world is always a matter of perspective. Being confident in our own perspective while listening to others'. Much understanding and success can be found in doing the latter. Otherwise, you could find yourself holding an elephant's tail, convinced that it's a rope in your hands.

Thank you, Jordan, for reminding us that the key to successful leadership and successful living is a matter of perspective.

With the holidays upon us, I challenge you to seek to understand others’ perspectives – look for the common ground instead of the differences. May you be rewarded with new opportunities, renewed relationships and more joy in your life!


Related Articles

  Perspective.
  Lesson #5: Teamwork is an Essential Tool for Success
  SME's - why compliance models work in Africa
  Successful Living Part 3 - The Nine Universal Laws of Life
  Building a Practice On Purpose Series Part #2 - When Life Purpose is About More than What You Do
  10 Tips For Dealing With Employee Attitudes
  MIND TRAP: Perspective
  Perspective is Everything
  How to Survive the Tough Times
  Would You Trade Your Problems
  5 Small Business Success Strategies for Beating the Recession Blues
  Are you an 'And' or an 'Or'?
  Are you a Leader or a Follower?
  MIND TRAP: Following Fads and Fashion
  Empowering the Business Mind
  If You Don't Know, Ask...Then Ask Again
  Pick Up A Positive Perspective
  Stress and Perspective
  SME's - the impact of government mindset on entrepreneurship
  Blueprint for Building a Business On Purpose

Home > Leadership > Lee Colan > A Matter of Perspective >

Free PDF Download
What’s Your Compelling Purpose? - By Lee Colan

Name: Email:

About the Author: Lee Colan

RSS for Lee's articles - Visit Lee's website
Lee J. Colan, Ph.D. is President of The L Group, Inc. (www.theLgroup.com). Lee is a leadership advisor, energizing speaker and author of 10 rapid-read books designed for an information-rich, time-poor world. His best seller is Sticking to It: The Art of Adherence. Register for Lee's popular and practical e-newsltter at www.theLgroup.com or call 972-250-9989.
Click here to visit Lee's website.
Dashed Line

More from Lee Colan
Seek and You Shall Find
Take Your Stand with Courage and Humility
The Need to Achieve
Finish Strong
Rituals The Fabric of a Highperforming Team

Related Forum Posts


Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Share this post and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
Share for a Cause
Featured Expert
Dr Don Yates Sr PhD
@drdony
Visit website



Worksheets
By: Evan Carmichael

Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

8 Powerful Steps to Finding Your Passion

Does your pitch suck?

Create a plan of attach to launch your new business.

8-Cover

Like this page? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Bottom Footer



Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Easy To Earn Money with Home Based Business Ideas

Site Speed

The Biggest Obstacles I Had To Overcome

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.