Written by: Ian Gibbs, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Nobody likes being told they have a closed mind, do they? After all, being open-minded is considered a virtue – a valued quality which helps us acquire new ideas and perspectives which, in turn, help us to find better ways of solving problems and growing as an individual.
Yet most of us also take great pride in our strong convictions, values, and preferences – which, by definition, are also examples of NOT having an open mind.
So where is the balance? How can you tell if you’re reasonably open-minded or not?
Here are six ways to consider:
1. Listening
Are you open to hearing other people’s viewpoints and opinions that differ from your own? Do you give others a chance to present their opinions in full, even if you don’t like the sound of them? Or do you cut them off at the first opportunity?
In the workplace, an open-minded manager listens to the opinions and ideas of their team members, even if they disagree with them. By doing so, they can gain new insights and perspectives, and create a more collaborative and inclusive work environment.
So the next time you engage in a conversation with someone who has opposing beliefs, observe how you react. Do you immediately start arguing? Or do you hear them out? Are you just trying to think of how to counter their points while they’re talking? Or do you actively seek to understand their point of view no matter how unpalatable it might be?
2. Experimentation
Do you enjoy trying new things? Or do you prefer the certainty of the stuff you’re familiar with? Sticking to what you know is reassuring, but it does little to help us experience new things.
When was the last time you tried a new food, or travelled to a new place, or read books on topics you're not familiar with? In fact, when was the last time you tried anything new?
An open-minded researcher who is working on a project actively seeks out new ideas and approaches, even if they challenge her existing beliefs. By doing so, she can expand her knowledge and make new discoveries.
So how do you feel about getting out of your little comfort-corner a little more often and making the effort to get out, experiment and try new things?
3. Overgeneralising
Can you accept that the world is a complex place and not conveniently divided into clear-cut groups?
Not all [insert your favourite adjective here] people are the same. Although they might share one characteristic, they will widely differ in many others.
Whether you’re referring to Ornithologists, Opera-Singers or Octogenarians, it’s totally unrealistic to suppose that everyone in that category adheres to the same stereotypical definition.
An open-minded person avoids making assumptions about people based on their age, gender or ethnicity. Whether recruiting or promoting, it’s better to avoid assumptions and focus on evaluating the evidence of their skills and qualifications to make fairer decisions.
So, the next time you’re considering a complex issue involving people, try to see how much generalising you’re doing and rectify it.
4. Scepticism
Are you naturally sceptical or are you the sort of person that accepts things because... well, because it’s what you want to hear?
It’s much easier to believe what we want, rather than checking for ourselves.
Given that information is more easily available to us than ever, when was the last time you checked just to see if something was the way you’d been told? Or are you the sort of person that repeats what they’ve heard just because it conveniently fits with your worldview?
For example, if you hear a news story about a political candidate, do you automatically accept it as true or do you fact-check the story before forming an opinion? Similarly, if someone tells you that a certain diet or exercise plan is effective, do you take their word for it or do you research the claims and seek out additional information?
Now think of something you believe to be true. How adverse are you to seeking out an impartial verification? Or would you prefer to play it safe and not risk finding out?
5. Judgment
How judgmental are you?
Do you tend to divide the world into that which you approve of and that which you don’t? Or are you able to observe someone but without casting judgment on them?
Can you accept someone for who they are without labelling them as good or bad?
Are you the sort of person who can observe a stranger without pre-assigning them an ethical value?
One way to test this is to reflect on your opinions of others. How difficult is it to refrain from applying your approval or disapproval? Can you reflect on the actions of your colleagues, co-workers or companion without viewing them as being right or wrong?
The next time a colleague makes a mistake at work, rather than immediately judge them as incompetent, can you bite your tongue and take a moment to consider the possibility that there may be extenuating circumstances?
6. Flexibility
Finally, are you prepared to adjust your beliefs and opinions based on new information? For some, it seems like they’d sooner have their teeth pulled out without anaesthetic rather than change their mind.
Think about that for a moment.
What would it take to change your mind?
Are you willing to shift your position on a particular topic after learning new facts or evidence?
Or would you prefer to be wrong rather than flexible?
We all have biases and prejudices. But being open-minded doesn’t mean you’re weak or giving in on your principles. It just means you’re prepared to consider alternatives, understand other people’s points of view, weigh them up and then, based on reason, decide for yourself rather than stubbornly sticking to your point of view because you don’t like the idea of change.
So take these six questions and reflect on them privately or discuss them at the dinner table. But the next time you ask someone to keep an open mind, it would be useful to first think of your own open-mindedness and whether you’re expecting them to do something you aren’t prepared to do yourself.
And the next time you get the opportunity, try being a little more open-minded and see what happens. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Ian Gibbs, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Ian Gibbs is a leading expert in learning techniques and personal development. Through his talks, books and workshops, Ian helps individuals and organisations develop better strategies for learning how to overcome obstacles and achieve goals they thought were beyond them. He is the founder of Learning Clubs which are rapidly gaining notoriety for being a powerful personal development accelerator. Ian's mission is to help people understand and apply everything that science knows about how we develop new behaviour and skills but which is sadly so often overlooked and so keep up in today's rapidly changing world.
