A personal perspective / How I Think
Still curious.
Still questioning.
These are the ideas I come back to when I’m thinking, building or trying to understand someone else. They’re a starting point for a conversation, with room to change my mind.
01 / Principle
Ask better questions.
I think the quality of our questions makes a difference to the quality of our lives. A good question opens up possibilities that a quick answer can close down.
Curiosity is worth practising. I want to understand what someone means before deciding whether I agree.
A way to put it into practice
Before looking for a solution, ask what needs to change and why it matters. Give the answer enough space to reveal a better question.
What haven’t I asked yet?
02 / Principle
Show me.
“Show me” is one of my favourite expressions. A confident claim is a reason to look more closely. Evidence and demonstration help me decide what deserves my trust.
I want to stay as willing to examine my own assumptions as I am to question someone else’s.
A way to put it into practice
When an idea sounds convincing, ask for a demonstration or the evidence behind it. Look at the assumptions as well as the result.
What would help me know whether this holds up?
03 / Principle
Leave room for “I don’t know”.
“I don’t have enough information to comment on that” is a genuine answer. I’d rather ask another question than offer an opinion I can’t support.
Leaving something undecided gives me room to learn.
A way to put it into practice
When someone makes a sweeping claim about a group of people, pause. Ask for more context before joining in or pushing back.
Do I have enough information to offer a useful view?
04 / Principle
Question the familiar.
I’m interested in what change makes possible. Familiar ways of doing things deserve the same questions as new ones.
I want to work from what holds up under examination, while staying open to a different way forward.
A way to put it into practice
When a familiar approach feels like the only option, name its assumptions. Consider a small test of a different approach and see what you learn.
Are we doing this for a reason that still makes sense?
05 / Principle
Let others improve the idea.
“None of us are smarter than all of us.” I come back to that because discussion and refinement can take an idea somewhere I wouldn’t reach alone.
I don’t need to be the smartest person in the room. I want us to leave with something better.
A way to put it into practice
Bring an unfinished idea to someone with a different perspective. Ask what they would change, then make room for their answer to affect the result.
Whose perspective am I missing?
06 / Principle
Use AI to extend judgement.
AI gives me ways to extend the skills I already have and build new ones. I use it to explore ideas and help me learn.
The questions I bring and the judgement I apply still matter. I’m interested in becoming more capable with the tool.
A way to put it into practice
Use AI to explore a topic, summarise a podcast or explain something unfamiliar. Check the important claims and decide what deserves further attention.
What am I learning, and what still needs my judgement?
07 / Principle
Make room for experiences.
Experiences are more valuable to me than things. What I’ve learned and lived stays with me in a way possessions don’t.
I want the work I do to create freedom: time for people, places and experiences worth saying yes to.
A way to put it into practice
When considering another commitment, weigh the time it takes alongside what it offers. Think about the experiences it makes possible, too.
Will this give me more room for what matters?
08 / Principle
Take care with how you show up.
“Your energy arrives before you do” is how I think about presence. To me, it describes the effect our mood, attention and manner can have on other people.
I try to take responsibility for my part in that. Seeing the best in someone is a good place to begin.
A way to put it into practice
Before a conversation, pause and notice what you’re bringing to it. Listen to the person, leave space, and be curious about their experience.
What am I bringing into this conversation?