Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

I really love your point, because innovation and change are close to my heart - and you just described one of the key reasons people and organizations have difficulty with both. They both require learning - keeping an open-mind and viewing the world from multiple perspectives before you take a position (which by the way could change as you continue to explore). Sounds like a great blog topic for me too!!!!

Ann, thanks for stopping by... I've been amazed at how hard it can be at times to allow the other side to wiggle a few facts on our side. Maybe that's why the saying - "the mind is like a steel trap." What do you sense is a motivator for firms to adopt and open mind -- what could woo workers to want to do that when opinions come fast and easy...?

I teach writing and speech at a local college. When my students get to the persuasive essays and persuasive speeches, I asked them to take a stand.

Once they know the position they want to take - I tell them now argue the other side - just for the fun of it.

They look at me very stupefied. But, I persist - do it just for fun...and they do.

It's amazing how much fun they have doing it AND how often they come to me - you know Mr. Belew...I think I have changed my mind.

Too many people have their minds made up BEFORE they know the facts. No?

Your picture? Isn't that an outer hallway at Stanford?

I am pretty sure...it's right up the street from me.

Bill what a great idea to help students to think about and consider new options on the other side... It would be fun to engage them in a debate that uses only the other side of their papers -- and to see them develop cases that hold up against the side they once defended in a paper...BTW -- you got the picture right --