The Value Leaders Bring When Considering Different Perspectives in the Workplace

Written by: Stephanie Burford, PHR, M.S., HR Manager at Advisor HR

When looking at this photo what do you see first? A duck? A Rabbit? The Rabbit-Duck illusion is a famous optical illusion created by an anonymous illustrator in the late 19th century but published and popularized by Joseph Jastrow in 1899. At first glance, some people see a duck where others see a rabbit. After a slight shift of focus, the image will transform and reveal the other image. This simple two-dimensional illusion offers a strong metaphor for leadership. What we see often depends on how we look at it. In the workplace, one of the biggest assets leaders can bring to the table is recognizing and valuing different perspectives.

According to the Cascade Employers Association, perspective is the capacity to see the world from another person’s viewpoint and has emerged as a crucial skill in creating inclusive and thriving work environments. Fostering perspectives in the workplace are important for many reasons, especially when it comes to problem solving and making informed decisions.

Employees want to feel valued and that their insights matter. They are doing a lot of the work and remain the closest to the customers, clients, team members, processes, and procedures. It’s no secret that they have valuable insights leaders may not be aware of. It’s a common misconception that leaders have all the answers and make the big decisions. While that may be true in some cases, without input from employees, leaders risk missing valuable insights and create a culture of one-dimensional thinking. This can often limit the potential and creativity of team members in turn creating a culture where employees feel unheard and devalued.

Applying different perspectives provides many different advantages that result in a diverse perspective directly increasing employee engagement and productivity in the workplace. Below are some examples of how shifting perspectives and adopting a two-dimensional way of thinking plays an important role in the organization.

1.     Creates a Culture of Creativity, Innovation, & Curiosity: Employees feel encouraged to ask questions or speak up. They also feel comfortable taking risks and thinking outside the box.

2.     Encourages Constructive Conversations: Employees feel safe pitching ideas and providing their perspective – even when they may not agree. This can be done through brainstorming meetings, feedback/engagement surveys, or roundtable discussions. Leaders can facilitate open communication by asking questions such as “what am I missing?” “What are your thoughts?” “How do you see the situation?”

3.     Embraces The Fact There is More Than One Right Answer: Just like the rabbit-duck illusion - there may not be a single right answer to a solution and that’s okay.  Leaders should feel comfortable navigating through uncertainty and utilizing their team to provide different perspectives in effort to make an informed decision.

The rabbit-duck illusion emphasizes how what we see often depends on how we look at it. By shifting focus and prioritizing diverse perspectives leaders will foster a two-dimensional way of thinking and create a culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration.

Do your leaders lack a two-dimensional way of thinking? Reach out today to learn more about the different services Advisor HR and our platform has to encourage diverse perspectives in your workplace!