#ThinkfullyHabit: Take your hat off
The great Leonardo Da Vinci wrote in his notebooks that you should always assume that your first impression of a problem is usually biased towards your usual way of thinking. He always started by looking at the problem one way, then moved onto looking at the same problem a different way and then in other ways again. He called this “saper vedere” which translates to “knowing how to see”.*
So, when faced with an issue, put on ‘different hats’ and consider the same issue from multiple perspectives.
WHY?
Our perspective influences how we see the world and shapes how we act or react in a situation. We can often fall into the trap of having a narrowed and blinkered focus, only seeing what you expect to see and sometimes overlooking information that challenges your existing views. (For more on ‘tunnel vision’ check out our previous #ThinkfullyHabit: Have second thoughts)
A way to look at your challenge differently is to put someone else’s hat on. This could be someone you know, a famous person or even a fictional character. Consider how they’d respond and what they’d do in your situation.
Scientific research also suggests that speaking about yourself in the third person (referred to as ‘illeism’ – an ancient method favoured by the likes of Julius Caesar) can improve thinking. Behavioural scientist Igor Grossmann and psychologist Ethan Kross found that people tend to be more able to consider other perspectives and find a compromise when asked to describe their problems in the third person**. This simple exercise can help clear any emotional baggage or assumptions that may be biasing your thinking.