Listen Beyond the Expected
[O]ur brain naturally amplifies ideas that align with our own... we miss hearing the fainter signals... we fail to spot changes until it is too late.
“That’s what I thought they’d say.”
“It confirmed what I was thinking.”
“I know what you mean.”
It is amazing how often we can predict what others are thinking. It is surprisingly easy to do. Just so long as you stay on the surface. Avoiding truly understanding diverse viewpoints.
Digital is an incredibly powerful medium for reaching others. Just like all forms of power it has the potential for tremendous good and also for wide-reaching harm. The problem is not the technology, it is how we choose to use it.
Digital has the ability to incite because it can connect divergent perspectives in an instant. Reaching across geographical boundaries. Extending beyond our usual like-minded social patterns, to surface ideas and perspectives that contradict our own.
As long as we choose to hear them.
Whether you are listening to others in a face-to-face meeting or reading the chat in an online discussion, our brain naturally amplifies ideas that align with our own – while subconsciously filtering out perspectives that do not fit with our personal world view.
This neurological phenomenon occurs for good reason. Confirmation bias serves as an efficient way to process inputs because of the vast amount of information we are constantly exposed to. To form an unbiased decision, we would have to critically evaluate every piece of information available which is simply impractical. Therefore our minds tend to seek out the information needed to form subconsciously desirable conclusions.
Which means we miss hearing the fainter signals. Just like failing to hear an approaching vehicle behind us, hearing only the perspectives that align with our own – while dismissing others – means we fail to spot changes until it is too late.
An awareness of our brain’s natural bias enables us to change this.
Hearing the unexpected.
Looking for new ways to think, lead and work?
Gain fresh insight and develop new skills by joining a cohort of future-focused leaders across different organisations on our Futurework Leadership Programme