Similar Does Not Mean “The Same"

“I'd never just want to do what everybody else did. I'd be contributing to the sameness of everything.”
- Don Van Vliet (Artist and Musician, b. 1941)

When we are leading in our families, our businesses or teams, we seek to find likeness, and often rely on our past experience to guide us into the future.

Our past must be our guide in most cases, as it is our experience. And, after all, our experiences couple with our values to create our beliefs. Our beliefs are what guide us to our thoughts, words, and ultimately, our actions.

Remember, though, in this attempt to quickly process, and even group people and ideas together, that similar thoughts and actions are not the same thoughts and actions. It is useful to compare and contrast for familiarity and reference sake, and yet it is irresponsible and even dangerous to presume sameness. In thinking “I know exactly…” or “I have seen this before” quickly and often, we may miss out on the nuances of the differences…that which may make one very unique when allowed to be unique.

When you seek similar success or to avoid similar obstacles, keep the similar at the forefront, and resist lumping things into the sameness of speed and familiarity. Having the perspective of how we process and group things will remind you that leading is sometimes about the sorting and recognizing what is not alike as much as it is about being able to identify what is!