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What We See Depends on Who We Are

July 22, 2003

"The way we see the world is known as observing, and most of us think that what we see is fixed.  That is, there is a world 'out there,' and we are merely witness to it.  This is inconsistent with the principles of the new sciences.  One of the fundamentals of quantum thinking is that reality emerges from our observations.  In the quantum world the observer plays an essential role in bringing forth the very situation that he or she is observing.  Therefore, shaped by our observations.  The decisions we make and the interpretations we apply are made from who we are - through the lens of our personal history.  What we see depends on who we are.  Once we understand the principle of observing, we no longer need to be dependent on existing perspectives that fail to serve us.  We can take responsibility for our view of the world and, if necessary, change the way we observe (Zaiss, 2001, p. 97)."

Reference:  Zaiss, C. (2001).  True partnership: revolutionary thinking about relating to others.  San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

How does your personal history shape your leadership lens?

True Partnership is available on loan from the Ohio State University Leadership Center.  A complete listing of all the Leadership Center's resources is available on our website http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu/

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Created: 2008-12-22, Updated: 2009-01-09