Hello all,
This week I'm sharing a blog post from DeEtta Jones & Associates (DJA) that really made me think about my own thinking processes!
In this blog Everyone Has Opinions. Few Have a Point of View I read about how they see a difference between an opinion on one situation, idea, option or problem, and the deeper and more consistent thinking that lies behind a point of view.
From the text:
"Let’s start here: an opinion is easy. A point of view is earned.
We live in an age where opinions are everywhere—scroll your feed for five seconds, and you’ll be served hot takes, strong stances, and click-worthy commentary on everything from AI to astrology. But a point of view? That takes something more. More depth. More discernment. More of you.
So what’s the difference?
An opinion is a reaction. Often quick, surface-level, emotionally driven. You like something or you don’t. You agree or you don’t. You repost, retweet, respond. Opinions can be loud, persuasive, even performative.
A point of view is a rooted perspective. It’s built over time—through your experiences, your reflection, your values, and your unique positioning in the world. It connects dots. It makes meaning. And when expressed well, it invites others to see something new, something deeper, something true.
Put simply:
Opinions fill space. A point of view shapes it.
Why This Matters for Leaders
If you are leading, teaching, advising, or influencing others in any capacity—your point of view is your value. It’s what distinguishes your voice from the noise. It’s what lets people trust you, follow you, and build alongside you. Not because you have the most credentials or the sharpest takes, but because you have clarity—and the courage to share it.
This is especially important in a moment like now, when so many people are in flux. The world is uncertain. Institutions are being questioned. There are fewer fixed paths, and more need than ever for grounded, human-centered leadership. "
That's very interesting to me, because I consider our work in higher education as a long-term effort to sustain and improve our society and our world by passing on the knowledge we've gained so far and setting up the next generations to keep growing and innovating to meet the next sets of challenges. So I have opinions about all kinds of things- all day long. But what exactly is my point of view?
I'm going to spend some time thinking about this. I know that harmony in a diverse world is a part of my world view. I know that sharing resources, physical and intellectual, not limiting access to them, is part of my world view. I know that I tend to be skeptical of leaders who say one thing and do another. I know that nature heals and being in nature is what we were designed for.
But I don't know exactly how those views shape how I work, and now it's going to take up space in my head until I figure it out!
Naturally I had to share this with all of you, so I'm not alone in my pondering.
One last quote from this blog "What do you know in your bones that you haven't said out loud yet?"
Feel free to respond on or off the list with your thoughts!
All the best,
Holly