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Thought Leaders Unpacked -> What the Dog Saw #4: True Colors

thought-leadersWhat seems obvious to some is not obvious to everyone. What is a common perception in one generation can seem anachronistic to the next or revolutionary to the prior.

What-the-Dog-SawIn those moments in between, when something new is emerging, those with a stake in the status quo can find themselves inadvertently blinded by that stake.

They need the world to stay the same in order to continue functioning as they have, succeeding where they have, and/or exerting power to the extent they have.

In Chapter #4, Gladwell tells stories of two women who were able to articulate the emerging public perception before either most women or the predominately male leadership of their companies did. The respective ad campaigns were hugely successful for both the many women who may otherwise never have considered coloring their hair, and for their firms who made a fortune.

Just as interesting, though, is that these campaigns were very different from each other. They were different because the perceptions of one generation are not necessarily shared by the next. The language which communicated beauty and value in one time does not necessarily translate to all times.

Hence, the need for awareness of people’s perceptions. Awareness to our own perceptions. Blindness to the values, perspectives, mores, ethics, feelings, needs and anything else that contributes to how people perceive reality is the ultimate Achilles heal in these fast-paced times of ours.

How can you increase your awareness of both your own perceptions and the perceptions of others as they relate to what you are trying to accomplish?

What was your main take-away from Chapter 4?

Each Friday I post my reflections from one chapter of What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell. If you are just joining the discussion now, welcome! Catch up on the entire series here.


Here's My Thought...


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