Stories are very, very powerful - maybe too powerful?

I am reminded of the phrase: Never let the truth get in the way of a good story?

Reading Michael Lewis' The Undoing Project, there are some great lessons for all professionals, management and leadership.  The examination of perception versus reality and the bias of personal experience over worldly fact is unnerving.

Too many decisions are based on flawed thinking, influenced by emotional circumstances with more effort spend on excuses (stories?) rather than pursuit of the truth. If something appears true-enough then people look no further.

Plausible stories (fake news?) undermines projects and change, management and leadership which are based on combination of Trust and Truth.

Key points

People predict by making up stories
People predict very little and explain everything
People live under uncertainty whether they like it or not
People accept any explanation as long as it fits the facts

The problem appears to be that stories based on feelings and scenarios are emotionally engaging and gather followers whereas facts demand too much effort. In the pursuit of eQ have we sacrificed iQ?

Stories deliver power to orators.

Rhetoric, or the art of persuasion, is an ancient topic that's no less relevant today. We are in a golden age of information sharing, which means you are swimming in a pool of rhetoric every day, whether you realise it or not. 

Hitler understood the power of words: He saw them as a tool which he needed to master if he wanted to achieve his goals. He had a strong vision which he believed in passionately and he knew that he needed his people to share that passion if he was to succeed.

FURTHER READING
https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2016/11/words-like-loaded-pistols-wartime-rhetoric/

RECOMMENDED BOOK
https://www.amazon.com/Undoing-Project-Friendship-Changed-Minds/dp/0393254593

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story: Your review of 2017?

Reading Michael Lewis' The Undoing Project, there are some great lessons for all professionals, management and leadership. The examination of perception versus reality and the bias of personal experience over worldly fact is unnerving.

Too many decisions are based on flawed thinking, influenced by emotional circumstances with more effort spend on excuses (for errors) rather than pursuit of the truth.

The after the fact justification for failed prognosis or planning is prevalent even in expert professions including doctors and lawyers as well as those predicting elections or referendums. Subjective probability (A hunch of 60% chance of xxxx) is rife and undermines projects and change, management and leadership which are based on combination of Trust and Truth.

Given that most project and change efforts fail this is sobering and worthy of scrutiny as we reflect on 2017 and plan for 2018. How can we better anticipate error, omission or failing to better recruit support and ensure success?

The problem appears to be that stories based on feelings and scenarios are emotionally engaging and gather followers whereas facts demand too much effort. In the pursuit of eQ have we sacrificed iQ?

FURTHER READING

https://www.amazon.com/Undoing-Project-Friendship-Changed-Minds/dp/0393254593
http://lenzwelling.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-undoing-project.html

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim Rogers is a Qualified Change Practitioner and PRINCE2 Project Manager, with an MBA in Management Consultancy. Past projects have included the incorporation of Ports of Jersey and Operations Change and Sales Support for RBSI and NatWest. He has also helped SME's streamline systems and scale-up operations and managed growth by acquisitions. He is a tutor/lecturer for the Chartered Management Institute.
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/timhjrogers

CONTACT

tim@timhjrogers.com @TimHJRogers +447797762051
http://www.timhjrogers.com

COMPANY

TimHJRogers@AdaptConsultingCompany.Com
http://www.AdaptConsultingCompany.Com
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