We all look at the world through a particular lens that is shaped by many things including:

• Our upbringing
• Our values
• Our beliefs
• Our attitudes
• Our experiences
• Our personalities
• Our professional training
• Our dominant worldview
• Our organisational culture
• Etc

These factors influence the way we look at the world, and the way we gather, consider and interpret the information that comes to us.

None of us is completely neutral and objective in the way we view the world, and often we understand and interpret information quite differently from other people.

It is therefore important that we both understand and manage ourselves. We need to understand how we view the world. We may be:

• Too suspicious
• Not suspicious enough
• Too optimistic
• Too pessimistic
• Too confident; perhaps failing to recognise the limits of our own competence
• Not confident enough
• Experienced in our role; perhaps becoming complacent
• Inexperienced in our role
• etc

Also, our own experiences and views will influence the way we see the world. For example:

• Our attitudes to discipline, the importance of routine and how children “should be raised” may cause us to view other parents in particular ways
• Our past experiences (whether personally or within our families or friendship groups) may influence our views on such things as:
  • Domestic abuse
  • Substance misuse
  • disability awareness
  • Mental health issues
  • Religious viewpoints
  • What constitutes “extremism” or “radicalisation
  • Etc
• Our personalities affect the way we interact with others and the way we view situations
• Other people’s expectations may influence us and the impact of peer pressure and organisational culture may reinforce our beliefs or may cause us to act differently from our core values and beliefs
• Etc

It is important that we understand and manage ourselves. We can also seek perspective and advice or guidance from our managers and others who know us well or understand the situation that we are addressing.