Smart leaders see the gray in situations and reject the easy black-and-white answers. They know there are always tensions, competing values, and nuances at play as situations unfold. The relative nature of beliefs and opinions requires them to see all sides of an argument or problem. The more they know, the less certain they usually are.
I hedge my statements all the time. I’m glad this has confronted me on it. I think I have this strong tendency because I’m motivated to protect my credibility against being accused of being wrong. It does make sense that the thing I’m doing to protect my credibility is actually undermining it. This is going to have me tracking my hedges all day!
Thanks for the assignment.
Check that out, my first set of statements in the day with no extra hedges thrown in!
Wow. Some good points. I try to read up on and test theories and compare them to my empirical experience/s. This slows me down in decision making (personal and professional life). Eventually we have to make a decision (inaction is a choice too). We must own whatever the result. If we mess up we can use the PDSA/PDCA method (Deming. OUT OF THE CRISIS), and most importantly learn from it.
Yes, this idea should be balanced with the idea that being quickly decisive is a good quality. While there is a specific way that great leaders like to delay making decisions, it doesn't do it by way of undermining their credibility by always offering a hedged opinion.
By the way, glad to see you show up routinely in the comment section, Joe. Always good to see the evidence of people making reading this newsletter part of their routine.
Makes me wonder how many disclaimers it takes before the typical person would think they've heard too many out of me. Is this just a matter of balance? Can I maintain credibility by just being a bit more balanced in how often I declare something without using a hedge?
This is a question about style and presence... which should flex depending on the circumstance and setting that you're in. Style is on a scale that has power on one side and attractiveness on the other. If you have a tendency to always use disclaimers, your style choices coming from your tendency to lean toward attractiveness instead of power.
Too much in either direction will cause issues. But too much attractiveness opens a person up to not be taken seriously.
At first reading, it seems possible that I may potentially conclude at some point in the future that I am not completely innocent on this point. 😜
Maybe, just maybe
I hedge my statements all the time. I’m glad this has confronted me on it. I think I have this strong tendency because I’m motivated to protect my credibility against being accused of being wrong. It does make sense that the thing I’m doing to protect my credibility is actually undermining it. This is going to have me tracking my hedges all day!
Thanks for the assignment.
Check that out, my first set of statements in the day with no extra hedges thrown in!
Good morning,
Wow. Some good points. I try to read up on and test theories and compare them to my empirical experience/s. This slows me down in decision making (personal and professional life). Eventually we have to make a decision (inaction is a choice too). We must own whatever the result. If we mess up we can use the PDSA/PDCA method (Deming. OUT OF THE CRISIS), and most importantly learn from it.
Thank you for your time.
Yes, this idea should be balanced with the idea that being quickly decisive is a good quality. While there is a specific way that great leaders like to delay making decisions, it doesn't do it by way of undermining their credibility by always offering a hedged opinion.
By the way, glad to see you show up routinely in the comment section, Joe. Always good to see the evidence of people making reading this newsletter part of their routine.
Interesting thought.
Makes me wonder how many disclaimers it takes before the typical person would think they've heard too many out of me. Is this just a matter of balance? Can I maintain credibility by just being a bit more balanced in how often I declare something without using a hedge?
It's not a specific number, of course.
This is a question about style and presence... which should flex depending on the circumstance and setting that you're in. Style is on a scale that has power on one side and attractiveness on the other. If you have a tendency to always use disclaimers, your style choices coming from your tendency to lean toward attractiveness instead of power.
Too much in either direction will cause issues. But too much attractiveness opens a person up to not be taken seriously.