Humans are unequal on many fronts — wealth, health, education, and social status. Yet, one of the deepest inequalities lies in our thinking.
We think at different levels.
- Some of us think only of ourselves.
- Some focus on problems and opportunities — seeking ways to profit, grow, and gain advantage.
- And a few dedicate their thinking to higher purposes — fighting for justice, protecting nature, or serving humanity.
These are only examples, but they reveal a truth: most friction between people arises not from intent, but from differences in thinking.
Lower-level thinkers often pull others down to their level of comfort.
Higher-level thinkers, on the other hand, can frustrate others by expecting them to understand perspectives they haven’t yet reached.
As leaders, change champions, and managers, we encounter this tension daily. The goal isn’t to label ourselves as “higher thinkers” or complain that others “don’t get it.”
Real leadership begins when we meet people where they are — understanding their worldview, guiding them with patience, and sharing new ways of thinking without judgment or superiority.
Perhaps leadership itself can be defined as the art of appreciating these differences and helping others rise — one level of thinking at a time.
