How might you challenge your long-held opinions?
The Challenge
Think of an opinion you have held about something (work-related or not) for a long, long time. It might be one that you often find yourself disagreeing with others about, or one that you're not even sure where it came from. Now, spend 20 minutes researching arguments for the opposite viewpoint (e.g., if you think timeshares are a terrible idea, look up "what are the benefits of timeshares?"), and write down the top three arguments that you find most compelling (even if you still disagree with them).
Why do this?
Broaden your perspective. Although understanding other viewpoints won't necessarily make you change your own opinion, it will, at the very least, give you insight into why others believe what they believe.
Making it a practice to research, rather than immediately reject, an opinion that clashes with your own will help you avoid falling into the trap of sticking to your guns simply for the sake of pride. And, in cases where your opinion doesn't shift based on your research, it makes you better prepared to respond to your opponents' arguments the next time you discuss the subject.
What’s next?
Find someone you know well who has a very different opinion about something than you, and ask them to tell you why they believe what they do. Approach this conversation as an opportunity to learn, not debate.
