Our context colors everything…the rabbit is for the magic act; the rabbit is a pet; the rabbit is for dinner.
Often in board meetings, I hear the pronouncement,” for the sake of time and efficiency don’t repeat what has already been said and people gleefully nod.” What I 100% always observe is no two people ever mean and say the exact same thing. Even more confusing is the response, “ditto what everyone has already said.” When active listening for understanding, context and meaning, one is quickly faced with the question, ” what exactly is the ditto referring to…pet, dinner, act?”
The consequence of lacking clarity can range from frustration to catastrophe in decision making and execution. All too often assumptions are made and acted upon only later to be uncovered as…an individual’s perspective; the prevailing perspective; one of many perspectives.
The greatest antidote to combat bias is clarity…for the fastest results go SLOW to elicit and confirm CLARITY.