Challenge Your Own Opinion

Very recently a few issues have raged major debates in my mind. I was growing more and more indecisive and that's when I sat down to explore the deeper intricacies of my behaviour. The findings were insightful and interesting and here I share the same with you.

Given any topic, people have a quick tendency to draw fast conclusions. It only takes a few seconds for most people to start thinking about a particular scenario in a particular way. The problem is that this initial viewpoint builds into a strong bias. This happens even more aggressively if more people are involved in the decision making. Why do people defend their viewpoints? Some possible reasons that come to my mind our:

• They want to be seen as decisive, well informed and knowledgeable people.
• They may have come across a piece of information themselves, and they value that more than any other thing.
• They may perceive the discussion as an argument and perceive defeat in accepting other people's opinion
• They may be biased towards an individual, group or opinion even before the discussion started.
• They may be unwilling to accept that what they perceived initially was incorrect and limited

All these reasons put together limit a person's ability to take himself as a person and the group as a whole to a good conclusion. Many times the discussions actually take the shape of the argument and end up on a negative note.

Having discussed the normal flow of event let me share an alternative approach which I find very useful. These few ideas will help you ensure better decisions.

Challenge Your Own Opinion

If you think of something in a particular way, open up that idea to people in a matter that it more susceptible to scrutiny and bashing. Don't wear a defensive attitude. Rather see to it that the best brains in the group do what can be done to find loopholes in an idea. Idea bashing is the basic step to idea maturing. If in fact your idea makes sense, it is worth opening it up to hard scrutiny and sees the various aspects related to it. When the idea being bashed is your won and you are okay with it, it is the best scenario to explore all sides of the case.

Don't be too rigid

Generally an opinion should be based on facts and information and not biases. Even at this information age, there surely are things that you don't know about. Think of yourself campaigning hard to take a group of friends on a trip to Wonderland against going out for a movie and dinner. There could be things that you don't know still. Wonderland could be closed on a particular day that you are choosing for your trip. It could be extremely windy and rainy making the trip to a water part undesirable on that day. The key thing is that one must try to base discussions on facts and information. As a consequence, you should also be open to any more information that can come your way.

There is always a better way

Understand the fact that no decision ever is perfect. There surely is a way to make things better. The points that you see as opposed to your opinion may in fact be eye-openers for you to make each side of the decision better and more mature. It is understandable that the decision needs to be made in a finite time. But the focus in that duration should always be to make it as good as possible. Listen to the reservations people have about an idea carefully and see how it can be addresses.

It is people who implement

One must not forget that the decision's quality will not be judged by what was decided itself. It will be decided by the end consequence of the act for which the decision was taken. It is likely that the people who are involved in decision making are also involved with the implementation of the decision. If the decision arrived at is such that many people in the group are not convinced with it then it is likely that the action on the decision will be half hearted. In such scenario a brilliant plan can also convert into a flop show. Ensure that the decision takes into account the faith of the stakeholders in implementing it.

It's okay to switch opinions

If at a stage you realise that there is a better way of looking at things, it is okay to switch the side(s). Don't be ashamed of doing what you really think is right. Some people may get triumphant at such moves, they may give you a wicked smile or stare at you with the look which says - "I told you so'. You have to look back with a confidence which says - I always speak what I think is right. When such a situation comes you can make it easy for yourself by openly and loudly informing about the change and also indicating the reasons for the same. It will ensure that the unwanted reactions are nipped in the bud.

A discussion is meaningful when the debate is not about people's viewpoints. Promote the spirit of making opinions faceless and discuss topics on basis of the merits and demerits. Refuse to bow down to the darker side of human nature and stand up for what is right.

Victory is not being able to force your opinion. It needs men of character who can think beyond their selfish selves in the direction of wellbeing and success of the group as a whole.