Perspective-centred Interaction

Basics

Prosperity involves diverse businesses, diverse talents, diverse functions, diverse resources and diverse markets in diverse countries. An approach to benefit from interaction exists where diversity itself becomes the valued focus.

The benefit comes from learning and respecting different views. The motto: There are no absolutes! If that is what feels essential and right to you, then there are indeed no absolutes and this is how you handle the world:

• Explain and uphold diverse multiple viewpoints
• Maintain relativism and impartiality
• Learn from any source
• Be flexible
• Go for win-win-win (you, me, social context)
• Regard function as essential: ideas must work
• See reality as messy and ever-changing
• Take a holistic or systems viewpoint
• Indicate immunity to pressure and resist any pressure in practice
• Exert autonomy without causing harm to others

Think of individuals you know who obviously exemplify the category. In doing so, remember that it is the overall pattern that counts—not any particular interaction.

More…

Relativism: perspective is everything.

• There are no absolutes—different ways suit different challenges.
• Support pluralism and affirm relativism.
• Apply the perspective that best fits the situation
• Apply various approaches to a situation to see what fits.

Seek out, note and welcome diversity and multiplicity.

• Strive for peaceful coexistence between distinct groups.
• Expect multiple viewpoints on all topics.
• Stay neutral about which values or ideas are better or best.

Be open to learning at any time and from any source.

• Value knowledge and clarity.
• Work with paradoxes.
• Understand things from a variety of perspectives.
• Identify all relevant factors including social pressures, politics
  and feelings.

Accept the messy nature of reality.

• Take a systems viewpoint—intervene in processes.
• See the short term, intermediate term, and long term.
• See both the small details and the big picture.
• Comprehensively and systematically analyse situations.
• Accept paradoxes and the inevitability of change.

Be purposeful.

• Focus on functionality, competence, flexibility, spontaneity.
• Manage and work with emotions.
• Be immune to conventions and external pressure.
• Uphold principles and reject pragmatic or reflex action.
• Achieve resolution of complex situations for win-win-win outcomes.

Value personal freedom without harm to others.

• Be highly principled.
• Resist external pressures and refuse to be controlled.
• Be impartial and neutral.
• Be sceptical of convention.

Review

• Is this being far too clever and intellectual?
• Might it be a recipe for over-complicating matters?
• Doesn't impartiality mean «sitting on the fence»?
• Isn't extreme neutrality disconnection or a lack of commitment?
• Isn't refusal to bend to social pressures just biting the hand that feeds?

By insisting to the rest of us that we don’t see things as they are, and that instead we see things as we are, the perspective-centred person turns our comfortable certainties into a chimera.

If all perspectives have equal validity, then the truth of a situation doesn’t exist or is at least wholly obscured. It must surely be possible to transcend this seemingly sterile intellectualism (or is it hidden egotism?) to become self-aware and see things clearly. Otherwise no-one would ever be effective!

• Some say that the only benefit worth pursuing is lucidity. If you agree, and even if you don't, look now at being Reality-centred.

Originally posted: July 2009