Confidently Wrong?

Mark Twain is attributed with saying:

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble; it's what you know for sure that just ain't so."

We often hear, "We don't know what we don't know." And although that's true, what gets us into?more?trouble is acting on what we firmly believe to be true when it is not. At stake are the quality of decisions we make and the impact those decisions will have on ourselves and others. This is as true in our professional lives as it is in our personal lives.

What happens when we base our decisions on what we think are facts but are really a mix of half-truths, lies, and our feelings about the so-called facts?

We end up confidently and doggedly marching down the wrong path. The best case scenario is that we make wrong assumptions that result in a negative, but recoverable, impact to ourselves and/or others. The worst case scenario is that we believe a lie that results in a negative impact from which it is difficult to recover or from which we can never recover.

So How Do We Make Wise Decisions?

Wisdom isn’t rocket science. It’s more common sense than brain power. It’s aligning our values and principles with our actions… Intentionally applying what we already know (or will soon know) for the benefit of others.

We so often get in our own way and make it more complicated than it needs to be. Here are some ways to get started…

Slow down - Part 1.?Allow time to pause and reflect on the decision at hand. Most decisions are not life or death decisions that require an immediate answer.

Our crazy lives fueled by busyness, instant gratification, and our own self-importance make it feel awkward, but seek quiet, alone time for inner reflection. This helps organize and clarify our thoughts, and is an aid in aligning our values with the options before us. This looks different for everyone. For me, a key piece of pausing and reflecting involves my faith - seeking guidance and insight from a higher authority through prayer and Bible reading.

Slow down - Part 2.?Seek guidance and input from trusted people. Don't limit yourself to the "normal" sources... I've found that my wife offers wise insight on professional matters. This isn't because she's an expert on my industry or career. It's because she reminds me that character and values are key to whatever decision I make and she helps align these with the decision at hand.

Slow Down!?No one likes or trusts a pushy salesperson who demands an immediate decision.?So why treat ourselves the same way?!

Honestly examine our motives, then our facts (or lack thereof).?Are we interpreting the facts based on beliefs, opinions, biases, or emotions? Putting our facts into one of these categories helps clarify and guide our decisions. But beware, we’re incredibly adept at deceiving ourselves… Being completely honest with ourselves is often very difficult. Which is why we must seek guidance and input from trustworthy people.

Or… Do we even have all the facts? Many times what separates a leader from a manager is making critical decisions in the absence of facts, and maybe evein in the face of high risk. When the vision or goal is clear, but the facts aren’t and risk is high, a leader with strong principles will not hesitate in making these tough decisions.

Ask clarifying questions.?Who benefits or loses from the decision? Am I making this decision to improve someone else's life or my own life? Who will this negatively impact, and how? Ask "Could it be that..." For another application of this see Julia Galef's TED Talk,?Why you think you're right even, when you're wrong: [video | transcript]

Have an open, honest and candid discussion with someone who disagrees.?Opposing views have a way of clarifying the details. Common sense? Sure. Difficult to do? Absolutely! Intentionally asking to be challenged doesn't come easy. Our egos and our pride fight this whether we realize it or not. In the end, we may still disagree, but being open to listen to an opposing viewpoint often reveals even just one small point we hadn't considered.

What About Very Large Complex Questions or Problems?

Sir Isaac Newton offers some sound advice:

"To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age. 'Tis much better to do a little with certainty, and leave the rest for others that come after you, than to explain all things by conjecture without making sure of any thing."

Our lives are made up of "little" decisions and actions that can leave a great legacy. We prove ourselves in the small decisions and in so doing prepare ourselves for the larger and sometimes more critical ones.

We must swallow our pride, knowing we can’t do it all (or know it all). Accept the "little" we can accomplish, perform it with excellence, and allow others to join us in the journey. This is leadership.

Feedback

What do you do to make sure you are not acting on a firmly held untruth, intentional or unintentional?

What advice would you give about making decisions when facts and data are minimal or even nonexistent?

???Read this, and more, on my?Substack publication???