Reconciling Perspectives

We all have different perspectives on everything. For instance, right now the weather man is predicting rain for later today. From my perspective, that is not a bad thing because the grass can always use the shower and I have indoor reading to catch up on. But for the family that is preparing a cook-out to help celebrate Memorial Day, then their perspective might be that the rain, in the words of Winnie-the-Pooh, is a "bother." Here is another example of varying perspectives that remain very much in the news these days: water boarding. There are those who view it as torture and those who see it as being little more than having water poured over one's head.

When people of different perspectives get together, can consensus be reached? Is there even a possibility of agreement coming out of honest disagreement? The answer is "yes," but it is not always easy, nor should one expect a so-called middle ground to be reached each and every time people do voice opposing views. Reconciling perspectives represents a special communication challenge. Good communication does not necessarily result in agreement, but what it can do is identify common ground, foster mutual respect, and keep dialog going. Maybe none of those things is quite the same as reaching agreement, but collectively they help facilitate advancement and that is no small thing.

One vital key to good communication, especially when people from different perspectives butt heads, is active listening. Without question it is important to be able to articulate one's views in a reasonable and understandable way. But active listening can help you better understand another point of view, foster greater empathy, and even motivate one's creative juices as a way of identifying common ground. A great example of that was demonstrated recently by President Obama on the topic of abortion. Without question, there are many different perspectives on this particular topic. In a speech, he acknowledged the perspectives, then suggested two common elements that many on both sides of the issue share: it is a very difficult decision and a mutual support for adoption of unwanted babies. Those common elements may not settle the abortion issue, but they do help open the door to identifying other common elements as well as advance the conversation so that advancement can occur. In fact, if I really wanted to sound like a cockeyed optimist, then I would add different perspectives can even serve as an opportunity to initiate good communication skills in order to strengthen our interactions with others.