If you want to move towards becoming an integrative thinker then incorporate these six perspectives into your world view. Make them habitual. Roger Martin calls them “stances” in The Opposable Mind
Begin to believe these things about the world.
1. Existing models do not represent reality; they are our constructions.
Is what you are thinking about the objective reality? Or is it just the story that you are telling yourself about how facts fit together.
A driver quickly merges into your lane in front of you. That is a fact. Do you decide that they were a jerk cutting you off? Did you figure your car must have been in their blindspot? Do you think they were driving dangerously but maybe they were going to the hospital?
Creating stories and making judgement calls is needed to understand and interact with the world, but don’t fool yourself into thinking this is the only way that the events could be explained.
2. Opposing models are to be leveraged, not feared.
When someone comes up with another explanation for events the integrative thinker will accept and use that information instead of fight against it. It won’t inspire an argument, but a feeling of curiosity. They’ll look at the other sets of stories to find value in them. Each model is imperfect, but they are likely to be imperfect in different ways.
3. Existing models are not perfect; better models exist that are not yet seen.
If you combine those imperfect and opposing models you’ll come up with something closer to the truth, but that model itself will not be perfect. Beieving that better models exist gives you an opening for research and to avoid being afraid of opposing models. This is not an unusual concept in science, where Newton was supplanted by Einstein whose theories were modified by other scientists over time, but it also needs to be seen to be applicable elsewhere.
Begin to believe these things about yourself.
4. I am capable of finding a better model.
5. I can wade into and get through the necessary complexity.
6. I give myself the time to create a better model.
Changing your beliefs about the world helps you to understand, but putting in place these three beliefs about yourself will help you take action. If you find this task more difficult than the first, there is a wide range of personal development literature devoted to the topic. In this context, establishing the beliefs about yourself may be more dependant on your confidence in your tools and experiences, topics which are coming up next.
Martin cautions that we should not expect these shifts of viewpoint to be immediate, but rather that they are built up over time by regularly reflection. Consider how you thought about a problem or an opportunity and then the results of that thinking. Make adjustments next time.
For stories and examples that flesh out the principles read Chapter 6 of The Opposable Mind
This post is the third in a series that will cover the major topics of The Opposable Mind
Well hello there…I am very intrigued by your perspective on current and future thought. It is very interesting to see your take on what is and what can be possible. The beauty, which you point out, is having the ability to sit back and reflect on what you have presented and thrive for a better model. You have some very valuable insight on the world and idea creation, and I thank you for your investing in the future of the world…Retaining
Thank you. Do remember that the key ideas in this post are Roger Martin’s, although I agree with them and hope I’ve presented enough of their essence that people want to take a closer look at the book.