What do you know?

By Chris Uzo Jun 28, 2020

image of What do you know?

Have you ever looked at someone and had an immediate opinion about that person? Do you find it strange that it's the people you think you don't like at first sight, that are the most adorable when you get to know them?


Think about moving to a new city or country. If the city is strange to you, you're forced to meet random people, and hastily make assumptions about everything they do or say to you. Assumptions based on whatever level of experience you have.


Is it ok to make up these assumptions and profiles? How accurate are they? How long should you stick to these made-up thoughts? Do you even recognize that they're made up?


It's almost the same when you start a new job. You're quick to guess in your head, the personalities of your new coworkers. These early guesses stand mostly as a baseline to measure, over the period of your employment, how wrong you could be about them. And if you're not careful these guesses can also segue into resentment.


As work progresses, you get to know your coworkers better; their allergies, diet plans, loved ones, hobbies and their boundaries. You realize that people do have unique principles that govern their lifestyle. You also realize that people can be very different from whatever profile you can make up. This opens up an opportunity for you to learn something new from your new acquaintances. 


People like to talk, especially when the conversation is on what they're passionate about. When you get the opportunity, be completely receptive; listen, have healthy conversations, and learn something new about them. What you had in your head shouldn't hold water, regardless of its accuracy. 


Understanding others also drives you to try something new. It makes you think, "they are doing it, and I like their results. I should try it to see what my own results will be". This new knowledge, integrated with your knowledge base, can be a force to be reckoned with.


To culminate my point: Keep making the effort to know people better. There's more to any person than their looks, metrics, choices, language, ancestral conflicts, or skin colour.