BY JEFF CORBETT

Centuries ago, a group of Peruvian Indians were looking out from their ocean shores.

Something appeared far away that they didn’t recognize.

Seeing the sails of Spanish invaders on the horizon, they talked about it, and, lacking a better answer, they explained what they saw as a freak of weather, and went on about their business.

Their limited perspective of the sea did not include sailing ships. So they screened out what they didn’t understand, and let disaster in.

Let’s take a look at how understanding perspective can bring you a more robust, productive, and interesting life.

What is Perspective?

Your perspective is a way of thinking about or understanding something. It’s your outlook on life, or how you see the world.

Everyone advised David to forget about challenging the giant Goliath, telling him “Goliath’s so big; there’s no way you can win.”

David replied, “He’s so big, there’s no way I can miss!”

The people telling David not to go up against Goliath had a negative perspective of him and believed he destined to lose badly.

David’s perspective saw Goliath’s size as a positive thing, an assured win on his part.

You choose your perspective, and your choice makes all the difference in how you live.

Blinded By Our Own Perspective

Over time, it is quite common for people to start seeing their perspective as the only right way.

Back in the 1980s, Japan achieved world dominance in consumer electronics (think Sony) due to factors like a strong work ethic, high education levels, and a focus on quality and efficiency.

IBM, based in the U.S., placed a large order to Japan for advanced technological equipment, and they demanded a 98.5 percent defect-free order.

Japan accepted the order, and several weeks later, multiple large boxes and one smaller box arrived at IBM.

IBM employees were curious about the small box. When they opened it, they found a note that said, “We are not sure why you wanted 1.5 percent of your order to be defective, so we packaged it separately from the rest.”

You see, IBM’s perspective of 98.5 percent defect-free was their standard of excellence. They thought they were being demanding; whereas, Japan’s perspective and standard was 100 percent defect-free.

Which Perspective Will You Choose?

Your perspective, which is shaped by your beliefs, can directly impact your decisions and actions.

It involves choosing your attitude — whether you see the glass as half full or half empty. It’s choosing to be positive, and look for the good in life and in people, instead being negative and always critical of others.

Value Others’ Perspectives

Speaking of others, speaker and corporate trainer Steffan Surdek coined the term “perspective-taking” in his article “Why Using More Perspectives Will Make You a Better Leader.”

“This skill is about reaching out to people and better understanding their point of view on a specific topic or situation. It is … being truly and authentically curious about hearing and learning more about their perspective,” Surdek explained.

Make it a point to do more perspective-taking. It will open your eyes to other ways of thought.

Same Situation, Different Perspectives

Because everyone has different beliefs, perspectives can vary significantly between two people — even when looking at the same situation.

Last D-Day, I saw a documentary on TV which really hit home on this particular point. Among the interviewees were service members who played a key part of D-Day.

The first interview was with an infantryman in a jam-packed troop carrier landing on Normandy beach. As he looked out and saw the deafening explosions, withering machine-gun fire, and the horror of this bloody battle, he said to himself, “There is no way we can win.”

The second interview was with a pilot flying paratroopers over the English Channel and into France.

From his vantage point high in the sky, as he surveyed the largest armada in the history of the world sailing across the English Channel, he said to himself, “There is no way we can lose.”

Same battle, but two very different perspectives.

Look at and appreciate different perspectives to get the big picture!

Your Next Move

Perspective is a lens through which you interpret your experiences, shape your beliefs, and navigate the world. Your perspectives steer your life.

So what can you do to enhance your perspective?

Here’s some advice:

• Reflect Regularly: On a regular basis, consider how your current perspective shapes your thoughts and actions, and identify areas where you could benefit from a broader viewpoint.
• Seek Different Perspectives: Actively engage with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, or simply have conversations with individuals whose viewpoints differ from your own.
• Regularly Question Your Own Assumptions: Ask yourself why you hold certain beliefs and whether they are based on evidence or preconceived notions. What you believed five or ten years ago may be woefully out of date for what you believe today.

Start managing your perspective, and stop your perspective from managing you!

Jeff Corbett is an experienced public speaker, meeting facilitator and sales and marketing professional. He lives in Statesville. He can be reached at jeff@speak-well.com.