
The complete Thomas Dewar quote is:
“People’s minds are like parachutes – they only function when they are open.”
If I asked you to rate your open mindedness on a 1 to 10 scale, what number would you give yourself?
Before you answer, let’s look at the other side of the open minded coin. Who among us wants to be considered closed minded? There’s an indignity connected to being perceived as indignant. You don’t want to be that person. So if your mind isn’t closed, it must be really open to any and all possibilities. Right? But how realistic is that?
We all face the growing challenge of idea and information overload. Blame it on the internet and all the media connected to it. The reality is that we have more information to process from more sources than ever before. Is it any wonder we get overwhelmed? What does all this do for our attitude for openness? It’s enough to make you leap from your airplane without a parachute.
Is is possible to stay open to it all? Won’t we either suffocate or drown? Our solution is to filter what we take in and eventually choose to adopt.
The answer to that question is “yes”. To address our information overload challenges, we need to filter or limit our information intake and then work to prioritize the most valuable. Being indignant is an extreme expression of an attitude for closed mindedness. Overcoming an unproductive attitude requires development of new skills driven by an awareness of the attitude’s damaging effects. You also need a renewed focus on the desired results to make more effective filtering decisions.
So here’s my quick checklist for maintaining an open mindset.
Tom Lemanski helps accomplished leaders unlock potential, solve complex challenges, and amplify their impact.
Effective leadership is the key to driving meaningful, lasting success in a fast-changing world.
Tom’s focus on innovative strategies and self-awareness creates transformative results for leaders striving for the next level.
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“Power today comes from sharing information, not from withholding it.'” – Keith Ferrazzi