We all think to some extent, but do we do it the same? I work in IT where we have a range of people who are all meant to be intelligent. When we discuss ideas, it can get quite heated which usually happens when people get the wrong end of the stick.
What happens is someone highlights an issue, and talks about it. The networking guys will see the problem from the perspective of how things connect together. The software developers see it as a process with an input, a few dependencies and an output. The architects see it as a concept, and quickly drawn as a diagram. The point is, they rarely check that each point cross references with the thoughts everyone else is seeing.
This happens in politics too, but its easier to highlight something practical. So lets imagine that we want to build a new gadget. As the end user, the vision is of the end result. How it looks, how to make it do what its meant to do. We think about how it feels to own. How it makes life better. As the manufacturer, the thought revolves around the costs, the process of making it, what else it could be, and the rules around selling it. The designer thinks about how many end users are going to agree on how well the gadget does its job. The designer is also thinking about how the manufacturer will be viewed by others for producing the gadget. The engineer thinks about how the gadget works and how well it does it. All these things are compromises.
As humans we think by focusing on the parts we best understand. it could be minute detail, it could be the big picture of the benefits to society. While all these things are equally important, some are more important in the context of a particular question being asked. The benefits to society isn’t something the engineers can visualise as the connection isn’t a direct, measurable target. The use of generic parts helps the manufacturer and the engineer, the end user isn’t aware of what this means, but scares the designer as it makes it easier to copy by the competition.
So, can you move your viewpoint to that of someone else? That is the sign of intelligence. Actually, being able to argue two different viewpoints, and understand how they contradict each other is the definition of intelligence.
This is not something that can be learnt quickly, and needs long reflection to truly understand. Once you can do it, you’ve entered the world of open mindedness, and your life is doubt forever more!