You’re banging heads with bull-headed teammates. It’s not the facts. It’s personal disposition.
Personal disposition often determines the “right” decision.
Personal disposition.
- Visionary disposition. The “right” decision disrupts the present and moves into the future.
- Comforter disposition. The “right” decision doesn’t make people uncomfortable.
- Developer disposition. The “right” decision helps people try new things and grow.
- Protector disposition. The “right” decision considers all contingencies.
A closed mind has one perspective.
Single mindedness is good after decisions are made, not before.
Successful decisions, when there’s a lot on the line, need diverse dispositional-perspectives. The struggle is embracing more than one perspective when yours is “right.”
4 behaviors that close minds:
- Explaining facts and sharing information. The facts aren’t the issue; dispositional-interpretation is.
- Convincing others your idea is right.
- Telling others their idea is wrong.
- Raising your voice and other pressuring strategies.
7 ways to reach bull-headed teammates:
- Avoid talking about personalities. It doesn’t help to call a bull-headed person bull-headed.
- Don’t say, “The last time we talked about this….” People who bring up the past are trying to prove they are right now because you were wrong then.
- Open up by saying, “I see we differ on this idea. What am I missing?” You must open your mind before they open theirs, If you don’t, it’s a battle of egos.
- Restate. “I hear you saying….” Make people feel heard. Openness happens after people feel heard.
- Explore. Ask, “What’s important about what I’m missing?” Listen for their disposition.
- Let them be “right” without making yourself “wrong.” Release ideas that aren’t central to the idea you believe is best.
- Include. How can you answer their core concerns and yours at the same time. Find the third option.
The key to opening a closed mind is to stop giving it justification for being closed.
How might leaders open closed minds?