perspective > perception

"You're not listening to me!"

Three people can witness the exact same event and walk away with three completely different stories.

Each is convinced they're right.
Each is frustrated that others don't see it their way.

Sound familiar?

The truth is, we all view the world through different lenses. Your perception influences your reality—it is YOUR reality. And that's exactly why we keep butting heads with everyone else.

Perception is our unique view of the world.

However, this does not offer us a unique advantage when working with others. We keep trying to convince others to conform to our view of the world.

Think about it. How many arguments start because we desperately try to convince others to see through our lenses? We push, we explain, we get frustrated – all because we believe our perception is the "right" one.

But here's where things get interesting: while perception traps you in your own reality, perspective sets you free.

Meet Perspective – the art of observing the world from outside of yourself.

Let's break this down.

Perception is your default setting.

It's how you naturally interpret everything around you, filtered through your experiences, beliefs, and biases.

There's nothing inherently wrong with perception – it's just limited. When you operate purely from perception, you're stuck in a single viewpoint, trying to force others to see the world your way.

Perspective, on the other hand, is a skill you can develop.

It's the art of observing the world from outside yourself. You can either step back and observe everything as an entity separate from yourself, or you can mentally place yourself in someone else's position. This shift changes everything.

I've been experimenting with this shift lately, and it's been nothing short of transformative.

Instead of being trapped in my own bubble of perception, I've been practicing what I call the "entity shift." 

It's about choosing one of two paths: o

1. Stepping back to observe yourself as a separate entity in the situation (imagine watching yourself in a movie) or,
   

2. Deliberately placing yourself in someone else's shoes (which works way better)

When you operate from perception:

• You defend your viewpoint at all costs

• You miss crucial information that doesn't fit your worldview

• You create unnecessary friction with colleagues

• You limit your growth potential

• You stay stuck in your own echo chamber

When you shift to perspective:

• You understand the motivations behind others' decisions

• You spot opportunities others miss

• You build stronger relationships across all levels

• You make better strategic decisions

• You become known as someone who "gets it"

This simple shift from perception to perspective can accelerate your career in ways that technical skills alone never will.

It allows you to really understand people’s intentions - what they really want, and use that understanding to your advantage when making decisions.

This isn't about abandoning your viewpoint – it's about enriching it.

Every time you shift from perception to perspective, you add another layer of understanding to your decision-making toolkit.

In meetings, this might mean asking questions instead of making statements. In conflicts, it means seeking to understand before being understood. In business discussions, it means considering multiple stakeholder viewpoints before making decisions.

The most successful professionals aren't necessarily the most skilled – they're the ones who can see and understand the bigger picture. They're the ones who've mastered the art of shifting from perception to perspective.

Think of it this way: Perception is looking at a maze from ground level, while perspective is viewing it from above. One keeps you trapped in the confusion of the moment; the other reveals the clear path forward.

Your next breakthrough isn't hiding in your current perception. It's waiting in the perspectives you haven't explored yet.

You’ll learn that it’s way easier to talk, sell, and network once you understand what the person sitting opposite of you is after.

The most powerful question you can ask yourself today:

"What am I not seeing?"

Make the shift.

Watch your world expand.