Many CTOs have reached their position because of their deep expertise and knowledge. It is easy to fall into the habit of insular thinking, where they operate in isolation and ignore outside perspectives. Other CTOs falsely assume they have enough experience or expertise to make big decisions without anyone’s input. These leaders are prone to confirmation bias and may overlook data and opinions contradicting what they believe to be true. They also need to catch up on the rewards that come from diversity of thought.
Learn from this CTO mistake:
1. Get curious about what other people think — especially those from different backgrounds, geographies, or areas of expertise.
2. Most importantly, get curious when people have a different opinion.
3. Instead of looking for perspectives that reinforce your point of view, look for ones that challenge it.
4. Remember that institutional knowledge, while valuable, can cloud your outlook. Listening to diverse perspectives can open your eyes to blind spots and help you make smarter decisions.
Try this: find and nurture other perspectives
Identify non-competing peers who you want to connect with. Nurture the relationship with them, and share the challenges you’re facing. Don’t ask them for solutions. Ask them for the questions they would ask if they were confronted with this challenge.
Seems like a daunting task? Speak to us to accelerate this process.
