‘We need to drastically improve our ability to see, and appreciate, what’s on the periphery and in the empty space. Not only because a just, equitable society demands it, but also because this is where truly innovative ideas come from,’ says the author of Flux, April Rinne
In the wake of #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and a broader reckoning of systemic injustices and inequalities, Harvard Business School Professor, Laura Huang, found herself reviewing recommended first-year MBA reading lists and curricula. What she found was not surprising, yet entirely disquieting: all of the lists were overwhelmingly dominated by white male authors.
Meanwhile, Todd Sattersten, co-author of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time was in the midst of a personal reckoning. He considers himself progressive, yet wondered: How many authors included on the list were people of colour? He’d tried to identify the most popular books but hadn’t paid attention to demographics. The answer was equally disturbing: zero.
Mandates and calls for greater diversity in the business world and beyond are not new, yet the needle has barely budged. By and large, the voices of women and ethnic minorities are still difficult if not at times impossible to be found . . . or rather, to be seen.
It’s not that they’re not out there. It’s that for too long, they’ve been ignored, relegated to the sidelines, and written out of the script. And critically, there is a clear and resounding prerogative for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the new script.
The real action is on the periphery
Women and people of colour have been showing up for ages and doing the hard work. Unmistakably visible, yet unseen. Full-throated voices, muted. Some of the best and brightest idea generators, concealed in the light of day. Marginalised on the periphery. Occupying the empty spaces.
When we look only front-and-centre – at today’s CEOs’ ‘climb to the top of the ladder’ power structures and ‘knowing how to play the game’ metrics – not only are we seeing only a fraction of the full picture, but also what we’re looking at is pretty stale. This is the old script at work. Yet in reality, on the periphery and in the empty space is where real action, meaning, and progress are found.
As a futurist, this dynamic makes sense to me because in one way or another, the forces that shape the future are always on the periphery before going mainstream. For years, ‘mainstream leaders’ believed that mobile phones would never overtake traditional landlines. Mobile phones were marginalised. Yet today there are nearly twice as many mobile devices as people on the planet and landlines are fast becoming relics.
Mainstream thinking also deemed a pandemic a peripheral threat – until the coronavirus infected tens of millions and body-slammed the global economy in just a few months. Indeed, sometimes what’s on the periphery can go mainstream at warp speed.
Learning to see
My point here is simple: we need to drastically improve our ability to see, and appreciate, what’s on the periphery and in the empty space. Not only because a just, equitable society demands it, but also because this is where truly innovative ideas come from.
Empty space is the ideal place, indeed perhaps the onlyplace, where there is enough oxygen to breathe life into new possibilities. Laura Huang saw this. She knew that all around the white men who are at the centre of traditional MBA curricula are extraordinary yet underrepresented experts on business strategy, finance, investment, organisational theory, management, and leadership. So, she created the Well-Balanced Meal MBA reading list featuring women and people of colour (and yes, white men to balance things out). Their perspectives are fresh. They come at business and life from the side flank. Their goal isn’t to ‘hit the bull’s-eye’ because they know that’s already past its prime. They’re writing a new script that includes a bigger, more inclusive future of business and beyond.
In many ways, today’s world is one giant case study of learning where to look and, fundamentally, how to see. When change hits, those who can see what’s on the edges, in the empty space, and where new solutions are to be found are better positioned to navigate uncertainty and be responsible leaders. But it’s one thing to talk about this superpower and another thing to actually develop it. Expanding your peripheral vision is one simple (and even fun) way to start.
Expand your peripheral vision
Peripheral vision is the ability to see objects, movement, and opportunities outside your direct line of vision. You can think of peripheral vision as the awareness of everything you’re not looking at.
Today, most people are hyper-focused on what’s front-and- centre: the task at hand, the next thing on the to-do list, this quarter’s returns, or just getting through the day. We often don’t notice what’s on the periphery or horizon. Perhaps you don’t feel like you have the time, or you’re not sure where to look. Yet there’s an entire universe of new insights and ‘ahas’ within your grasp… if you can see it.
Peripheral vision isn’t just about fresh ideas or finding answers. It turns out that when you’re anxious, your peripheral vision shrinks. This can happen if you’re anxious about work, grades, finances, expectations, relationships with friends and colleagues, or just about anything. The effect is the same: your scope of reality, comfort and creativity narrows. This is called ‘tunnel vision’ for good reason.
Expanding your peripheral vision opens up new horizons, surfaces solutions, and reduces anxiety. Yet it doesn’t happen automagically; it’s a skill you must develop and a superpower you must practice.
You can practice this skill while blinking, moving your head from side to side or in circles, or while walking, reading, or doing any other activity that restricts your attention. Alternatively, go upside-down. Hang from a tree, do a headstand, or simply reach for your toes. Then look at wherever you are from this new vantage point. Don’t overthink it. Do you see the same scene, differently? What had you not noticed right-side up?
I have done handstands for more than 40 years. What began as childhood gymnastics has turned into a full-fledged passion for an ‘upside-down perspective’ and a core part of my personality. Practicing handstands helps me shift my view and see better. They increase my flexibility and mental acuity. And they’re fun. What’s not to like?
Expanding your peripheral vision isn’t a silver bullet. But it can help you see more, see better, and soften your anxiety. It’s a great place to start.
This is an edited excerpt from Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change by April Rinne (Berrett-Koehler, 2021).
A graduate of Harvard Law School, April Rinne’s work draws on her history as a futurist, advisor, global development executive, microfinance lawyer, investor, mental health advocate, certified yoga teacher, globetrotter (100+ countries), and insatiable handstander.
