So often, it seems that challenges occur in work, and in life generally, because one person is not understanding another person's perspective. I have made this mistake at times, and I observe it regularly in team environments.
I find a great visual tool to help is what I and my teams call "the beachball".
This metaphor was introduced to me by Paul McGee "The SUMO guy", an inspirational speaker, in around 2012. He also talks about it in his book Shut Up, and Move on. I still use the metaphor regularly, anytime that I think I may not be understanding someone, where I think someone may not be understanding me, or if I observe 2 or more people talking about what appears to be the same topic, but they're seeing it from different perspectives.
The concept is very simple - if you imagine holding a beachball out in front of you. Someone facing you can be looking at the same beachball, and if you ask them what they are seeing, they may say "Green, yellow and red". Whereas you may be seeing white, blue and orange. And someone to your right may be seeing blue, orange, and green.
You're all looking at the same beachball, just from different perspectives. Whenever you feel that there is a misunderstanding between you and someone else, think:
have I considered things from the other person's point of view? What's going on in their world, what are they seeing from their perspective?
have I effectively communicated to the other person what I'm seeing from my perspective?
Therefore it's always worth thinking "are we looking at the same beachball, from different perspectives? Or are we looking at different beachballs? What does the beachball look like from the other person's perspective? And have I effectively communicated what it looks like from my perspective?"
I encourage you to watch Paul's video of this, because he explains it so well, and if you get a chance to see him speak, or buy one of his books "Shut up, Move On" or "How to speak so people listen", I highly encourage you to do so.
When working with teams, I sometimes take the example even further:
one person may be looking from one perspective, and seeing white, blue and orange
another person may be seeing green, yellow, and red.
However the CEO or team leader may be seeing all 6 colours from the top, but not the detail
The finance team may also be seeing all 6 colours, but only from the finance perspective
Meanwhile someone working in a specific team may be seeing mostly just their area - like looking at the orange section closely, seeing all the wrinkles and issues, and only seeing a little bit of blue and green at the edges
Meanwhile someone may be really in the detail, seeing only the wrinkles in the orange
and someone else may be seeing only the detail of the yellow
everyone's view of the beachball depends upon their perspective
so just imagine the different perspectives going on in any team when looking at any business problem, or personal decision
so just think - are we looking at the same beachball, and if so, what does it look like from the other person's perspective?
Comments