In this solo episode, I try to navigate between my educator voice and my soul care voice to help bring awareness to the practice of perspective taking. Not only is this a well-researched leadership skill, perspective taking can help in all relationships and interactions.
One of the key elements of perspective taking is getting curious about the why behind the individual or group’s expressed perspective. Curiosity does not judge; curiosity allows space for asking non-threatening, non-argumentative questions. When you perspective take you are making effort to see from another’s point of view not only from your view.
In a 2019 article from Psychology Today, titled The Power of Perspective Taking, author Joscelyn Duffy wrote:
Respecting the perspective or habits of others by offering them empathy is crucial for our development on both a personal and professional level.
Getting curious and offering empathy (not sympathy) allows space for relating to another without your personal/professional point of view being most important.
My hope is that as you practice perspective taking you experience an expansion of your capacity to see and hear others as they are and for who they are: souls created with imago dei.
As always, if you have questions or comments I invite your thoughts. Please reach out to me: lisa@lisalewiscoaching.com
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