Speak With Conviction and They Will Listen.

I have been struck in recent times by the level of adoption of people's ideas. The average day has more than it's fair share of meetings and the current hot topics are getting debated regularly in multiple forums. What stands out is that the prevailing opinion isn't always the one that has the most compelling logic, but very often the one that has the most assertive spokesperson.

When there is a vacuum of information it is filled by forceful opinion. Very often people in meetings have this overwhelming desire to be seen to have every angle covered and there is often an absence of debate in favour of a number of assertively postulated ideas. In this gladiatorial contest of conjecture he who speaks loudest carries the argument. Very little importance is attached to the quality of theories, indeed if there isn't a single overriding theory that carries everyone along, then it is the most loudly stated opinion that carries most weight.

I think the most worrying aspect of this situation is that a little knowledge assertively conveyed can railroad the decision making process. As a result some poor quality judgements can be arrived at that are based on ill informed opinions. This can waste time and money.

As a personal learning point it leads me to conclude that you don't always need to have the answer. But if you want to influence decisions it can be useful to state your position with enough conviction to convince those around you that you know what you are talking about. In some respects this sits a little uneasily with me as it seems slightly deceitful. But when I see bad decisions being made simply because an individual speaks with assertiveness; I am given to believe that the ends justify the means. If a more considered view carries greater weight due to its delivery then some difficult situations could be avoided.

The other consequence of always being perceived as having the answer is people will trust your judgement more broadly. Thus affording greater influence. The next challenge is to always speak with conviction based on a position of considered understanding; for now it will be a start to always speak with conviction.