If You Want to Grow, Be Open

What do you do when someone presents a point of view different from yours?

You can

• cut them short,
• dismiss it completely,
• and force your own point of view.

Or

• listen,
• absorb,
• ask more,
• reflect,
• and accept/tweak/reject.

The first choice keeps you stagnant and makes you less likeable while the second helps you grow and even increases your likeability.

How to do it? 

1.   Control the urge to respond – listen more, speak less
2.   Focus – be present and absorb the information
3.   Ask questions – be curious to know more
4.   Think about it – take time, practice the pause
5.   Exercise your agency – accept/reject/be indifferent

Richard Feynman said, “I would rather have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned.”