Diverse Thinking Called Key to Better Decisions in Business and Life

Joshua Chefec, a former Commercial Banking Executive at J.P. Morgan, is championing the value of diverse thinking in an era of increasing specialization and algorithmic information filtering. Drawing on years of experience across multiple industries, Chefec argues that actively seeking out differing perspectives is one of the most overlooked skills for making better decisions.

‘When I build a team, I want to ensure that there is diversity of thought,’ Chefec says. ‘That’s how you make better decisions.’ He believes that surrounding oneself with similar viewpoints can limit growth and lead to missed opportunities. ‘The best ideas often come from people who see things differently than you do,’ he adds. ‘If everyone thinks exactly the same way, you’re probably missing something.’

Research supports Chefec’s assertions. According to a study by Cloverpop, inclusive teams make better business decisions up to 87 percent of the time. A McKinsey & Company study found that organizations with greater diversity are more likely to outperform their peers financially. Meanwhile, research published in the Harvard Business Review indicates that teams exposed to different viewpoints are more likely to challenge assumptions and uncover better solutions.

Chefec emphasizes that these benefits extend beyond the workplace. ‘Whether you’re making career decisions, personal decisions, or business decisions, it helps to hear viewpoints that challenge your own,’ he says. Throughout his career, he has worked with companies in industries ranging from consumer retail and manufacturing to media and professional services, attributing much of his professional development to exposure to people with different backgrounds and approaches.

Curiosity, Chefec argues, is a competitive advantage in a rapidly changing world. According to LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report, learning agility and curiosity rank among the most valuable characteristics employers seek in future leaders. The World Economic Forum similarly identifies critical thinking and active learning as key workplace skills of the future. ‘You should never feel like you already know everything,’ Chefec says. ‘The people who continue learning are usually the ones who continue growing.’

Chefec encourages individuals to take small steps to broaden their perspectives without major changes. Suggestions include reading viewpoints from outside one’s industry, having conversations with people from different backgrounds, asking more questions before forming conclusions, and staying open to changing one’s mind when presented with new information. ‘Growth doesn’t always come from having the answers,’ he notes. ‘Sometimes it comes from asking better questions.’

He challenges professionals, students, and lifelong learners to intentionally seek out one new perspective each week for the next month, whether by reading a different publication, attending a new event, or speaking with someone outside their field. ‘The goal isn’t to agree with everyone,’ Chefec says. ‘The goal is to understand more than you understood before.’ As industries evolve and information becomes more abundant, he believes diverse thinking may be one of the most important habits people can develop. ‘Better decisions start with broader perspectives,’ he concludes.

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