The Power of Thinking Differently
I’ve just got certified in a psychometric assessment (Lumina Spark, Lumina Leader), and it left me fascinated. Not only because of what I discovered about myself, but because it reminded me of a simple truth: we are all wired differently.
Some of us thrive on structure, following a clear, predefined plan. Others feel most alive when there’s freedom, flexibility, and room for improvisation. Some are bold and visionary, while others bring the gift of careful detail and precision.
When we bring these differences together—in a team, a community, or even in society—something powerful happens. What one person lacks, another balances. Where one sees risk, another sees possibility. Together, we expand beyond what we could achieve alone.
This is diversity in its most profound sense: not only visible differences like gender or race, but the invisible ways we think, process, and create. Cognitive diversity is what fuels innovation and resilience.
Research confirms this. Studies by Harvard Business Review show that cognitively diverse teams solve problems up to 60% faster than teams lacking diversity. McKinsey found that companies with higher diversity (visible and cognitive) outperform peers by 35% in profitability. These are not small numbers—they are a call to reimagine what collaboration truly means.
And yet, embracing this kind of diversity is not always easy. It means welcoming “aliens”—people who don’t think like us, who challenge our habits, who sometimes make us uncomfortable. It means valuing differences not as inconveniences but as vital sources of growth.
So I invite you to pause and reflect:
How open are you to collaborating with people who approach the world differently than you do?
When faced with someone whose style seems opposite to yours—rigid where you are flexible, cautious where you are bold—do you resist or lean in with curiosity?
Every time we choose openness over resistance, we contribute to a shift—not only in our teams, but in society as a whole. Imagine the ripple effect if more of us embraced the richness of difference.
Diversity of thought is not just a “nice-to-have.” It’s the soil in which innovation, understanding, and progress grow. And we all have a role in cultivating it.