Validating someone else’s experience is a foundational step toward truly connecting. In cross cultural communication, this is often one of the biggest challenges to overcome. Other cultures have other narratives they live by. They tell history differently. Their heroes and villains aren’t the same as ours. Being able to say, “You are right”, not necessarily in all facts but in their experiences, takes effort and humility on our part. It also opens us up to see that the way we experience the world is not the only way to see it. Seth Godin recently posted the following:
The other person is always right
Always right about feelings. About the day he just experienced. About the fears (appropriate and ill-founded) in his life. About the narrative going on, unspoken, in his head. About what he likes and what he dislikes. You’ll need to travel to this place of ‘right’ before you have any chance at all of actual communication.
What are some difficulties you’ve faced in attempting this type of posture? What are some of the benefits?
