Sunday 21st April 2024

Topics:

• During the week I posted the following on X: "How to get to the truth:
  1. Ask why.
  2. Repeat back what they just said, so they hear how stupid it sounded.
  3. Stick to first principles."
• Some of that post was borne out of recent frustrations in my day job (hence the use of stupid), but there are three serious points there which are worth exploring further.
• So let's start with asking why:
  • This is a great way to challenge statements made as facts. Why do we have to do that?
  • This is also a great way to learn when asked with genuine intent. Why is that so?
• Now let's look at repeating back:
  • You can use this to hold a mirror up to bad ideas. "So what you said is..."
  • You can use it to show you understood the point. "So what I got is..."
  • Finally, you can use this to summarize the discussion and get people aligned around your summary. "So what I am taking away is..."
• Finally we have first principles. A first principle is a basic assumption that cannot be deduced any further, is a fundamental unit that everyone accepts within a given domain.
• When we reduce the discussion to first principles, namely those things that cannot be misunderstood, it will allow us to get closer to further basic truths.
• In any organization, we have to deal with large volumes of noisy data, and human interpretations of that which are biased. The truth can become very elusive.
• By asking why, repeating back, and sticking to first principles: you can drive your team towards a truthful outcome and cut through the noise.
• What I am working on this week:
  • Search indexer improvements for greppr.org.
• Media I am enjoying this week:
  • Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury.

Download

techleaderpro-2024-week-16.mp3

File details: 12.8 MB MP3, 8 mins 53 secs duration.

Title music is "Hidden Beyond" by Aiyo, licensed via www.epidemicsound.com

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