Avoiding Division

Absolute thinking creates division. We all do it, and it’s something that has been ingrained in us since birth. When we truly believe our way is the only way, we immediately cause division, both internally to ourselves and externally, with those around us. In this blog post, I will discuss how a healthy perspective can help avoid these divisions within ourselves and the problems they create for others.

Division happens when commonalities are no longer accessible. What do we have in common? What do we enjoy together? What are we fighting for?…etc. Again, I see it in the context of businesses, relationships, and organizations. When our differences are the things that define us, eventually, we will gravitate towards the edges.

We live in a culture in which “absolute” positions are championed. So it’s easier for alignment to happen when we know what we are for and what we are not.

In my opinion, these positions should take us only to a healthy 80% “conviction standard.” These thoughts and convictions can help shape the lens through which we view the world, but there should always be room for more discovery. We cannot be 100% right all the time.

Church Leaders:

The belief that the Bible is the “absolute truth” and “authoritative perfect Word of God” and “without error” is not flawed thinking. This “thinking” is a fundamental and foundational belief of Christians. It’s important. This is not “flawed” thinking. We can debate theology all day long, but the one thing you cannot debate is my personal experience. I was taught that if the Bible says it, then it is “absolute truth.” Never wrong. But what if I misinterpret it or do not understand it? What if I was taught something that was inaccurate? Context is significant. There always seems to be another layer deeper and more to learn. It’s our responsibility to be lifelong learners.

Flawed thinking comes into play, believing that MY/YOUR perspective is the right one and ONLY one. If we are 100% right then, we are not human. On the other hand, there is something beautiful about the teachability and adaptability of humanity. Being wrong has moved us significantly further than always being right. Thank you, Thomas Edison, for the Electric Pen. I imagine this failure spawned the birth of several more inventions and iterations. Thank you, Toyota, for Scion. You probably looked at this as a failed product line and realized that this gave birth to a whole segment that didn’t exist before then.

From personal experience, I have a greater sense of trust towards leaders who can admit that they might not have it right all the time. Humility and imperfections move our relationship forward.
I love this quote from Tim Keller. “In the end, we love people into belief. We do not argue them into belief.” – Tim Keller.

Business Leaders:
Allowing company values to exist that lock people into narcissistic obedience is dangerous. Your best leaders will never emerge if there isn’t room for being “wrong.” Phrases like “I’ve never really thought about it that way” or “that’s an interesting perspective” are ways to champion innovation. New ideas never emerge from those who fear being wrong.

Our ability to connect, have a conscience, relate, understand, adapt, transform and grow are the things that separate us from other species on this planet. These are the things that remind us we have hearts and souls. Personally speaking, my soul is at its best when my curiosity is looking for evidence that I could be wrong or supporting evidence that my thinking is correct.

Transforming culture always starts with transforming me. 

“Absolute” thinking creates division. When pride is our anchor to our position, division happens. Growth and transformation are rooted in humility.