Some years back my then boss Mr Bhushan Paranjape introduced me to the book seven habits of highly successful people written by Stephen Covey.During our technical meeting he used to coach me and other team member on principle of long term success in life.I also brought the book and read it to improve my understanding on the subject.In one of the chapter Stephen Covey introduces concept of paradigm shift.I will explain this concept with the example narrated in the book.
One day Stephen Covey was sitting in the New York subway. There were many people around him some reading newspaper,some relaxing and some chatting with others.After some time a man came to the subway with his two small children.They sat on a bench next to Stephen Covey.The small kids started to make loud nice disturbing other people.They even tore news papers of the people sitting there.Stephen Covey was observing all this and was also getting disturbed by the behavior of these kids.He thought that the parent of the kids was highly irresponsible person who was not disciplining his kids.
After some time Stephen Covey thought enough is enough he needs to talk to the father of the kids.Stephen Covey told to the father of the kids that he should take care of his children in a better way and tell them to be more disciplined.To this the father of the kids replied that even ,"I am thinking of talking to the kids,but it is turning out to be very difficult for me.We have just come out from the hospital.Half hour back my wife had died in the hospital.I don't know how to tell this to my children".
On hearing this Stephen Covey was shaken up.He understood that he was judging the man with a paradigm shift.He never knew what the other person was going through.Suddenly all of his thought about the man underwent a paradigm shift.He told him that he was very sorry and would like to help him in anyway possible.This real life incidence really teaches us that we generally judge other people from a paradigm shift.If we really try to understand other people,our beliefs and behavior towards others will change.Highly successful people try to break all the paradigms and work with the principle"Seek to understand and then be understood"-Stephen Covey
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