As humans, we are flawed.

We have blind spots. We get so accustomed to certain things in our lives that it’s almost like we can’t see them anymore.

We have biases and prejudices that are often operating at a subconscious level.

There’s no shame in this. It’s part of the human condition. But it’s important to raise our awareness of our limitations when it comes to the stewardship of our businesses. In that domain, these blind spots and prejudices have a material impact on how the business performs.

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Here’s a graphical representation of how we see the entity that is our business.

We see something that has a form, with different elements. There usually is some kind of numerical measure and also a sense of whether it’s doing well or not.

It’s one view, with all the flaws that come with that.

All too often, we are victims of ‘confirmation bias’ where we seek out evidence that reinforces our view, and we shy away from information that might challenge it.

Sometimes people stick with what they know even when it’s causing them pain. It may be excruciating but at least it’s a familiar form of pain.

That’s why it takes real bravery to allow ourselves to be open to an alternative perspective. Challenge isn’t easy but it tends to be the starting point of a process that can lead to greater success and enlightenment.

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So how might our business look like through a different lens?

The alternative lens opens up new possibilities and new challenges. The existing form may not seem as fixed. Different elements might seem feasible, the numbers have potential for growth, and expansion in different areas becomes an option.

I realise the concept of the lens is an abstract one. Just think of it as a fresh way of viewing the same thing.

In our SmarterPreneur Circles and other Smarter Egg programmes, we use books, frameworks, and models as lenses; when we apply someone else’s thinking to our situation, we see it in a different light.

Over the course of a year’s programme we could use a dozen or more lenses, all with the aim of generating those precious insights that can stimulate transformative action. What really makes it powerful is that we do it in the company of others, all of whom are looking through this fresh lens at their own situations too.

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When was the last time you held your business up to the light? When was the last time you got an alternative perspective? When did you last open yourself up for challenge?

It’s not easy. It means taking the starting position of “I don’t have all the answers”. That’s very difficult for many of us. We’ve been trained for many years to present ourselves as having the answers. Saying “I don’t know” has been (wrongly) seen as a weakness.

If there’s a universal truth in business, I have yet to find it. All we have are different perspectives. And one thing is for sure: if we’re relying on our own perspective and that alone, we’re limiting ourselves to outcomes that are way below our potential.

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This post has been amended from a recent edition of a fortnightly email written specially for ambitious business owners. You can join the growing list who receive this mail here.