Binary Thinking is Destroying the World

It is so easy to think in binaries. I’m right and, because you don’t agree with me, you must be wrong. This is good and that’s something different so it must be bad. We see this type of thinking everywhere, from the political stage to corporate offices. From immigration stances to opinions of work methodologies, we see strong polarizing voices creating camps of extremism.

The rising level of binary thinking that has emerged over the years has filled us with a bad taste in our mouths and made us almost lose sight of why we are communicating and working together in the first place. Binary thinking isn’t inherently bad. Like any other tool, it works out great when it’s needed but can cause massive damage when used in complex situations.

Fortunately, we can begin to navigate the chasm that exists between the existing extremes by recognizing the spectrum of options between them and learning how to navigate them to reach your end goals. Come and learn how we can become spectrum thinkers and directional thinkers that care more about progress than being right or wrong.

Transcript

1. Binary Thinking is Destroying the World Julia Wester Co-Founder, 55 Degrees AB @everydaykanban
2. @everydaykanban Image courtesy of https://twitter.com/MartinShovel
3. @everydaykanban Image courtesy of https://twitter.com/MartinShovel
4. @everydaykanban EITHER OR
5. “Human beings have a strong dramatic instinct toward binary thinking… Dividing the world into two distinct sides is simple and intuitive, and also dramatic because it implies conflict, and we do it without thinking, all the time.” Hans Rosling, Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
6. @everydaykanban The components of polarisation
7. @everydaykanban Make a claim The components of polarisation
8. @everydaykanban Support your claim Facts are optional… Make a claim The components of polarisation
9. @everydaykanban Support your claim Facts are optional… Treat dissenters as enemies Make a claim The components of polarisation
10. @everydaykanban Support your claim Facts are optional… Treat dissenters as enemies Make a claim Change focus 
 to #winning The components of polarisation
11. @everydaykanban VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF U.S. politics
12. @everydaykanban VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF Frustration, Discouragement, Cynicism
13. @everydaykanban VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF Loss of wisdom Frustration, Discouragement, Cynicism
14. @everydaykanban VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF Loss of wisdom Frustration, Discouragement, Cynicism Pendulum swings
15. @everydaykanban VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF Loss of wisdom Frustration, Discouragement, Cynicism Pendulum swings Wasted time & effort
16. @everydaykanban
17. @everydaykanban BOTH AND
18. @everydaykanban BOTH AND Cohesion Autonomy
19. @everydaykanban BOTH AND Cohesion Autonomy Automation Skills
20. @everydaykanban BOTH AND Cohesion Autonomy Access Security Automation Skills
21. @everydaykanban BOTH AND Cohesion Autonomy Working Software Documentation Access Security Automation Skills
22. @everydaykanban The Battle KNOWING
23. @everydaykanban The Battle KNOWING 1. See the polarities 2. Map them 3. Leverage them THE OTHER HALF
24. @everydaykanban VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF REMEMBER THE COMMON GOAL
25. @everydaykanban VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF REMEMBER THE COMMON GOAL
26. @everydaykanban BELIEF OPPOSING BELIEF POSITIVE OUTCOMES FROM A FOCUS HERE + + POSITIVE OUTCOMES FROM A FOCUS HERE MAP THE GOOD OF EACH VIEWPOINT
27. @everydaykanban BELIEF OPPOSING BELIEF POSITIVE OUTCOMES FROM A FOCUS HERE + + POSITIVE OUTCOMES FROM A FOCUS HERE BAD OUTCOMES FROM ONLY FOCUSING HERE - BAD OUTCOMES FROM ONLY FOCUSING HERE - MAP THE BAD OF EACH VIEWPOINT
28. @everydaykanban When you have interdependent pairs, there is no problem to solve. There is a situation to manage.
29. @everydaykanban VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF VIEWPOINT 
 IDEA BELIEF DECIDE TO WORK TOGETHER
30. Agreement Disagreement - Winning argument > reaching goal - Lack of trust - Anger and resentment - Team members give up / opt out - “I told you so” mentality - Very little learning - Solutions not always best - Not safe to disagree - Lack of honesty - Contempt and cynicism - “I knew that would never work” mentality - Very little learning - Decisions get made - Everyone knows the final decision - Cohesion towards a goal - Excitement to move forward - You feel supported in your path - Safe to share differing viewpoint - Lots of learning - More confidence in choices - Growing skills in handling conflict - Ideas are better supported, regardless of outcome + - MANAGE THE TENSION
31. Agreement Disagreement - Winning argument > reaching goal - Lack of trust - Anger and resentment - Team members give up / opt out - “I told you so” mentality - Very little learning - Solutions not always best - Not safe to disagree - Lack of honesty - Contempt and cynicism - “I knew that would never work” mentality - Very little learning - Decisions get made - Everyone knows the final decision - Cohesion towards a goal - Excitement to move forward - You feel supported in your path - Safe to share differing viewpoint - Lots of learning - More confidence in choices - Growing skills in handling conflict - Ideas are better supported, regardless of outcome + - MANAGE THE TENSION EWS EWS AA AA
32. @everydaykanban
33. @everydaykanban MY CHALLENGE TO YOU MY CHALLENGE TO YOU • Find the polarities ripping apart your communities • Reflect on your contribution to the issue • Actively help change the conversation
34. @everydaykanban julia@55degrees.se @everydaykanban & @55DegreesAB https://55degrees.se http://everydaykanban.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliawester/ L E T ’ S K E E P TA L K I N G …