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By Ethan Roberts - our featured blogger
I'm reading a really interesting book from Daniel Pink (Jackie is a fan already http://www.smart-solutions.com/motivation.html) called, "A Whole New Mind."
Pink's larger point in the book is why right-brained skills will be valuable in the future in a way they haven't been for the last few decades. What struck me, though, was his discussion of someone with a very strong left-brained way of thinking. He says they tend to speak in a monotone, they have no idea how what they are saying can be perceived by others, and they lack empathy.<continued>
Does this sound like anyone in the IT field you know? I imagine it does. I've always referred to them as the, "back room guys," the ones who are brilliant at their job --Â but you spend half the day trying not to punch them in the face every time they open their mouth. :)
It turns out that for these people, they really have no idea how they come across. The right side of their brain is not as developed as the left, so they are not in tune with the people they are speaking to. It's a very natural reaction to think, "They should learn to then!" and I agree, but when they don't even know they have a problem, how can they be expected to know how to work on it?
I bring all this up because, having read the information in Pink's book, I can now give myself extra space when I deal with these people. I'm so right-brained I'm surprised I can tie my shoes some days, so my empathy is usually engaged. Realizing that left brain thinkers look at the world fundamentally differently than I do has given me more compassion and patience. I'm hoping it will do the same for you. Every workplace can benefit from more patience and compassion, right?
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