Openness is about acceptance rather than agreement.

It’s about broadmindedness rather than closed mindedness.

It encompasses tolerance rather than intolerance.

Openness is also about taking interest rather than being indifferent.

Openness is about Being in one place and yet willing to go to another.

The value in our willingness to be open, is what we profit from by taking a risk. By pivoting when circumstances suggested staying the way I was, just got me more of what no longer worked for me. Something I’ve been doing all my life, finding what works for me!

There’s a wonderful share by Vera Nazarian an Armenian-Russian American writer of fantasy, science fiction and other “wonder fiction” who says:

“It’s a fact—everyone is ignorant in some way or another.
Ignorance is our deepest secret.
And it is one of the scariest things out there, because those of us who are most ignorant are also the ones who often don’t know it or don’t want to admit it.

Here is a quick test:
If you have never changed your mind about some fundamental tenet of your belief, if you have never questioned the basics, and if you have no wish to do so, then you are likely ignorant.

Before it is too late, go out there and find someone who, in your opinion, believes, assumes, or considers certain things very strongly and very differently from you, and just have a basic honest conversation.

It will do both of you good.”

There is a quote by Kenneth Chenault, chairman of the board at American Express and one of the organization’s most beloved former CEOs.

Who Says, “It’s not the strongest or the most intelligent who survive, but those most adaptive to change. Over the past 10 years, the need for, and focus on, adaptability has accelerated.”

On that note I’d like to share that I have taken notice of both Kenneth Chenault’s and Vere Nazarian’s thoughts related to openness. I’ve decided to be adaptative and change my mind! When I began this series on the Executive Voice, I focused on Values based leadership. From there I went to openness, the focus of this addition of Leading with purpose on purpose. Next comes Intentionality followed by Consistency and ending with a surprise change of thought, engagement. Stay tuned as I demonstrate what many of us avoid like the plague….Change!