Okay, I didn't say this. Peter Drucker said it.
He didn't mean everyone is always wrong about everything. But he did mean that people are wrong a lot more than they think they are.
The crowed is often wrong.
The majority is often wrong.
The expert is often wrong (witness the universally acknowledged phenomenon of the experts who disagree).
Those who lead are often wrong.
Those who follow are often wrong.
I'm wrong.
And so are you.
More often that we care to admit.
We all hold opinions, often strongly, that are just that and nothing else. OPINIONS.
Cognitive psychologist, John Howard Gardner talks about the 3rd grade mind. By this he refers to the fact that on most topics, we function at a third grade level of understanding of that topic. (Note: Leading Minds is just one of his many excellent books where he discusses these topics.)
In other words - Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
NO....
Sometimes not even as smart as a 3rd Grader.
We may be wrong due to ignorance (not having learned enough of the vital information).
We may be wrong due to deception (someone has given us wrong information). Think about Urban Legends which are spread widely and authoritatively. Think about the scandals of recent years as CEOs lied to the public, to the shareholders, to the company workers and to congress.
We may be wrong and sincerely think we are right... but still - we are wrong.
Being wrong is not the worst problem.
Refusal to consider the possibility that you might be wrong is a greater problem. I recently had a situation where I had to consider if I was wrong, but boy did I ever resist even looking at this as a possibility.
Being shown you are wrong but refusing to change your thinking is a greater problem.
Knowing you are wrong but stubborning defending it is a greater problem.
For those who are inclined to be wrong, here are a few virtues needed to overcome your inability to accept the fact that you are wrong.
Humility is a virtue.
So is a teachable heart (openness).
Curiosity (the desire to learn) is another necessary virtue.
Courage (in a strange sort of way to admit "wrongness").
As I think about it, I have changed my mind on many important matters of faith and life
I know that this will happen again, although there are some things that seem pretty difficult to imagine me changing my mind.
Leaders are those in the precarious position of having to hold strong views on most important matters, and yet able to hold those views both "fiercely and loosely." Quite a thing to do!
Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com
