Monday 31 March 2008

What’s the hidden danger of being the brightest person in the room?



James Watson claimed that he and Crick discovered the secret of DNA because they were not the most intelligent scientists pursuing the problem...!

In ‘
YES – 50 secrets from the science of persuasion’, Goldstein, Martin and the great Cialdini tell us why the best leader operating individually will be beaten to the solution by the less expert but cooperating unit…

1) Lone decision-makers can’t match the diversity of knowledge/perspectives of the 'team' approach… input from others can stimulate your thinking…

2) The solution-seeker who goes it alone can’t do parallel processing
The good news - you should remain in control and take the lead... but use other people to stimulate and speed up the process and break the problem down into manageable parts.
Do you get the team involved enough or do you endlessly try to do it alone ‘cos you think you are the brightest bunny?

RELEVANT LINKSView a book extract, download business podcasts and take the interactive quiz
Read The Times review of Yes
Yes! blog
Influence – The Psychology of Influence by Cialdini

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