Leaders Must Embrace Differences—First, See What We Share

Key points

We all should celebrate diverse viewpoints. The first step might be seeing what we have in common.

We can anticipate what is different so much that we try to override all the similarities of human experience.

Leaders who teach teams to unify around shared goals first can then better leverage diverse perspectives.

Most of us have settled into fall now, whether that means back to school, relinquishing summer Fridays, or closing up holiday homes. If you’re lucky, you may have traveled and had a chance to experience a new culture, try new foods, and interact with people different from yourself.

In corporate life, many of my clients seek advice on global teams. How to unite them, how to respect different views, and ways to connect across borders and politics . And while we mos