9 Elements of Multi-Disciplinary Thinking

Peter Kaufman is the CEO of Glenair, a privately held manufacturing company based in Glendale, Calif., with facilities worldwide. 

Glenair manufactures highly-reliable connectors and cables for mission-critical land, sea, air and space applications. Kaufman started the business in 1956 and has built one of the most impressive companies in the world.

Besides being the chairman, he has devoted his life to being a lifelong learner and a multi-disciplinary thinker and has given his time, money and wisdom to others. 

He published and wrote Poor Charlies Almanack, a coffee table resource book about his longtime friend Charley Munger, a must-have for your bookshelves. 

In a speech to the Cal-Poly Ponoma Economics Club, Kaufman explains being a multidisciplinary thinker: 

“So why is it important to be a multidisciplinary thinker? The answer comes from the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein who said, ‘To understand is to know what to do.’

Could there be anything that sounds simpler than that? And yet it’s a genius line, to understand is to know what to do. How many mistakes do you make when you understand something? You don’t make any mistakes. Where do mistakes come from? They come from blind spots, a lack of understanding. Why do you need to be multidisciplinary in your thinking? Because as the Japanese proverb says, ‘The frog in the well knows nothing of the mighty ocean.’ You may know everything there is to know about your specialty, your silo, your “well,” but how are you going to make any good decisions in life – the complex systems of life, the dynamic system of life – if all you know is one well?” Becoming a multidisciplinary thinker requires a deliberate effort to broaden your knowledge and expand your perspective.

Here are some steps we can take to develop multi-disciplinary thinking:

1. Embrace Curiosity: Cultivate a curiosity about a variety of subjects and fields. Be open to learning about topics outside your comfort zone and explore diverse areas of interest.

2. Pursue Interdisciplinary Learning: Actively seek out opportunities to learn from different disciplines. Take courses or read books in subjects that are unrelated to your primary area of study or expertise.

3. Connect the Dots: Look for connections between different fields. Identify common themes, concepts, or methodologies that can be applied across disciplines. This will help you develop a holistic understanding of complex issues.

4. Read Widely: Expand your reading list to include books, articles, and research papers from various disciplines. Look for authors who have a multidisciplinary approach to their work.

5. Engage in Dialogue: Seek out conversations with people from different fields. Engaging in discussions with individuals who have diverse backgrounds can expose you to new ideas and alternative viewpoints.

6. Attend Conferences and Workshops: Participate in conferences, workshops, and seminars that cover topics beyond your primary area of interest.

7. Develop Systems Thinking: Practice viewing problems or topics from a broader perspective. Consider the interconnectedness of different factors and how they influence each other.

8. Learn to Synthesize Information: Become skilled at synthesizing information across different disciplines. Identify the key principles, methodologies, or theories from each field and find ways to integrate them to gain a comprehensive understanding.

9. Practice Creativity: Encourage yourself to think outside the box and explore unconventional solutions. Embrace creativity as a way to bridge different disciplines and generate innovative ideas.

Remember, becoming a multidisciplinary thinker is a lifelong journey — which is why Kaufman has been so successful. It requires dedication, an open mind and continuous learning.

By actively seeking out diverse knowledge and perspectives, we can cultivate a multidimensional approach to problem-solving and gain a deeper understanding of the world around you.