“We are more alike than different.” You’ve heard this phrase. From me, if nowhere else. But let’s get more specific for the sake of clarity.

We differ in:

• Experience, knowledge, perspective, and awareness.
• Physical size, shape, and capabilities.
• Geographical path and current location.
• Adaptability, flexibility, and tolerance.
• Fears, beliefs, and concerns.
• Current joys and pains.
• Ambition, interests, and desires.

That’s a whole lot of difference! So how could anyone possibly suggest we are more alike than different?

It’s all about our values. You, me, your employees and co-workers—we all value very similar things. We value fairness, integrity, confidence, self-respect, good health, and the ability of families to take care of their own.

Why does this matter?

Because keeping this commonality in mind will make you:

• more able to see the silent forces controlling your behavior and consciousness (How Could I Not Have Known)
• a more compassionate and understanding leader
• more able to solve personnel disconnects (Embrace the Disconnect Principle)
• a better communicator
• more aware of your own triggers (The Antidote to Outrage)

Where it matters most, we are a lot alike and that’s good for all of us while our differences also nourish our collective vision and ideas.