NEW YORK, NY — Joshua Chefec, previously a Commercial Banking Executive at J.P. Morgan, is raising awareness about the value of diverse thinking and intellectual curiosity in an increasingly complex world. Drawing from years of experience working with businesses across multiple industries, Chefec believes that one of the most overlooked skills today is the ability to actively seek out perspectives that differ from our own.
"When I build a team, I want to ensure that there is diversity of thought," Chefec says. "That's how you make better decisions." As workplaces become more specialized and information becomes increasingly filtered through algorithms and personal networks, Chefec believes many people risk limiting their growth by surrounding themselves with the same viewpoints.
"The best ideas often come from people who see things differently than you do," he says. "If everyone thinks exactly the same way, you're probably missing something."
Research continues to show that diverse perspectives lead to stronger outcomes. According to Cloverpop, inclusive teams make better business decisions up to 87 percent of the time. A study by McKinsey & Company found that organizations with greater diversity are more likely to outperform their peers financially. Meanwhile, research published in the Harvard Business Review found that teams exposed to different viewpoints are more likely to challenge assumptions and uncover better solutions.
Chefec believes these benefits extend far beyond the workplace. "Whether you're making career decisions, personal decisions, or business decisions, it helps to hear viewpoints that challenge your own," he says. Throughout his career, Chefec has worked with companies in industries ranging from consumer retail and manufacturing to media and professional services. He credits much of his professional development to exposure to people with different backgrounds, experiences, and approaches to problem-solving.
"You learn more when you're willing to listen than when you're waiting to speak," he says.
Chefec also believes curiosity has become an increasingly important skill in a rapidly changing world. According to LinkedIn's Workplace Learning Report, learning agility and curiosity rank among the most valuable characteristics employers seek in future leaders. The World Economic Forum similarly identifies critical thinking and active learning as two of the most important workplace skills of the future.
"You should never feel like you already know everything," Chefec says. "The people who continue learning are usually the ones who continue growing." Rather than focusing solely on expertise, he encourages professionals to remain open to new ideas and experiences. "I've learned that growth often comes from situations where you're uncomfortable or dealing with something unfamiliar," he says.
Chefec believes developing broader perspectives does not require major changes. Instead, he encourages individuals to make small adjustments to their daily routines: read viewpoints from people outside your industry, have conversations with people from different backgrounds, ask more questions before forming conclusions, and stay open to changing your mind when presented with new information.
"Growth doesn't always come from having the answers," he says. "Sometimes it comes from asking better questions."
Chefec encourages professionals, students, and lifelong learners to spend the next month intentionally seeking out one new perspective each week. This could involve reading a different publication, attending a new event, speaking with someone outside their field, or simply listening more closely during conversations.
"The goal isn't to agree with everyone," he says. "The goal is to understand more than you understood before." As industries continue to evolve and information becomes increasingly abundant, Chefec believes diverse thinking may be one of the most important habits people can develop. "Better decisions start with broader perspectives," he says.
