The Devil's Advocate Always Comes off as a Wretch. Here's Why That Person Is Good for Business.

Everyone likes to set goals and be optimistic for the future. That is certainly a necessity in the unforgiving world we live in today. While optimism helps keep humans sane and involved, it does not provide sufficient means of developing a business strategy.

To detect enterprise risks and develop a sound strategy for uncertain times is compulsory for all businesses. A room full of optimists may not be equipped for this.

Enter the Devil's Advocate.

Simply assign one of your team members to ask the hard questions and be an a**hole. Get at the fundamental nature of your business decisions. Question the logic, think about possible biases, and always remember that humans make mistakes.

For large businesses with risk management departments, it is imperative that all members play Devil's Advocate roles. Cross-referencing and being creative is a step in the right direction when trying to solve complex problems.

Pessimism is good for business.

Pessimism is the ultimate risk management technique. For what is risk management without accounting for all possible scenarios (including worst-case)? No one likes to be the one to bring up the possibility of a recession, but a recession is historically inevitable. Don't judge others for being the Wretch. Embrace it.