The Perspective of "Otherness"


In my Project 2/3, I decided to take a close look at issues I’ve observed over the years in my professional career—this time with conscious awareness and a bit of distance. One such topic is being surrounded by people who have perspectives different from our own. Personally, I believe that when we talk about "diversity," this is what holds the greatest value. It’s not about someone’s race, gender, or whether they believe in God. It’s about the fact that being raised in a particular culture or possessing certain predispositions provides an extraordinary “booster,” as Americans say, in teams where such talents come together.
Experience can be very deceptive. As we develop habits, we start losing sensitivity to critically analyze reality. Corporations use the term “detached from reality.” You don’t remember what it was like when you were just starting out; when you celebrated small successes, or when you could work for hours to solve a problem. Now, with 30+ years of experience, you believe that the only path to success is the tried-and-tested (by you) one. We often say that routine can lead us astray. In our private lives, we blindly choose wine at a restaurant based on the region, a car rental based on the brand, and a holiday spot based on star ratings and reviews on Booking.com.
In the professional world, it’s exactly the same. Established paths, tried-and-true tricks—even working with people with whom we’ve already achieved success. Why take risks?
A long time ago, my mentor gave me life advice. I didn’t understand it at first, but as I started to apply it, I realized it was a million-dollar piece of advice. He told me to change my life every so often (once every 5 years), setting entirely new goals that would require great sacrifices and relearning from scratch. He said that most people are satisfied with what they have and what they’ve achieved. They fear taking on new challenges because they don’t know if they will lead to the same success. And after all, no one likes to fail. This approach requires courage and, from experience, a search for new people from whom you can learn.
This doesn’t mean quitting your job or family to go to the ends of the earth and become a monk in a Buddhist temple (though that is also an option). It’s about stepping outside your comfort zone. Listening to others who are better than you, more experienced—in a word, different. To experience the joy of becoming good at a different discipline.
This is how diversity works. If you’re completely “fixated” on your own beliefs, you lack understanding for other perspectives. We can’t tolerate other beliefs and viewpoints. In the end, we look in astonishment at differing opinions, and sometimes the wall we build becomes high enough to ignore any harm.
Some people can be reached through arguments—they’ll understand and agree. Others need to be persuaded to bend their views. Some are content being victims, as it gives their existence meaning. There are those whose goal is to shout about injustice. When the world changes, they look for another target to once again cry out about injustice. And there are those who strive to educate, explaining that different perspectives or simply other forms of existence are naturally correct. In my opinion, these people are valuable. Lastly, there are those who, through their own actions, demonstrate the benefits of otherness (though calling it that is quite inappropriate).