We all like to think we are open-minded.

We all like to think we are open-minded. The truth is that most of us are affected far more than we realize by biases, beliefs, and experiences that fill our lives. One of the things that I have learned from studying leadership principles over the years is that we have to be careful what we read and who we listen to. Radio. TV, journals, books and speakers could be reinforcing dogmatic principles in us that make it harder for us to be open to others. Top leaders are the ones who add small doses of diametrically opposed positions to stretch their thinking and challenge their positions.

Here's the catch though--you can go too far in either direction. It happens in the business world and it happens in churches. I see people who refuse to listen to the culture outside the walls of the church. The result is a follower of Christ who can be no earthly good. Unlike Christ, they have no compassion for the people they long to reach because they do not understand where they come from. On the other extreme, there are many who started out well who have become so "earthly minded" that they have compromised truth and failed to preserve the values that they once held dear. Either is bad, both can be dangerous. Learn to walk the ways of Christ with an eye and an ear for those who don't. Top leaders know this truth. Strong Christians would do well to learn it also.

Bottom line: We all see the world through our own personal filters. Make sure yours isn't creating too many blind spots.