Over the past decade or so, research into the activity of the brain has demonstrated that generally, none of us remember exactly what is going on. Moreover, we don’t fully see what is right in front of us. There is more going on than meets the eye and more than we can remember.
Somewhat frightening, really. Many people, myself included, are often rock certain of events, whether they are the ones happening in the present or events that happened previously. We believe that we remember exactly, and will often argue loudly for our own narrative of events.
We are often, usually, wrong. Note, its not that we are making things up, remembering a completely fantastical made-up event. Nor is it that we are not really seeing the things in front of us….that really was a bird, a red light or a handshake between two friends. It is rather that we are thinking and seeing only partly.
Paul, the Apostle, said as much when he declared (I Cor 13:12) “Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.”
Morpheus took the same tack with Neo when he explained that all we really see are electronic impulses filtered through our brain….in other words, we could be misled to thinking we are alive when really we are asleep. Remember his first words to Neo upon pulling the young man out of the Matrix? “Welcome to the Real World.”
What all this implies for you and me is that we must become more aware of what is not seen. We have to ask deeper questions about what we are missing. When confronting decisions, we must allow a scrutiny of the options that presses deeper.
At the same time, we must get better at holding our own opinions more loosely. Yes, you do remember the events that way, however, there is still more data, more information than you can recall. Plus our own “confirmation bias” blocks us from information that doesn’t already match our views. Thus, we must become comfortable with hearing info that counters our opinion, our choice of action.
In the Middle Ages, the nobility, sitting in their powerful castles, had a good grasp on this need for challenge assumptions. They kept at their side a trusted counselor…the jester. While the jester or court fool played other roles, in the most successful courts, the jester was allowed to play “devil’s advocate.” He would say things to the leader that few others were bold enough to say. The jester would counter suggestions with other ideas, including the possibility of the negative outcome.
What the concept of the jester demonstrates is how critical it is for there to be many voices at the table of decision making. If not careful, even as you attempt to gain insight from wise counsel, you could still end up in confirmation bias hearing only from those who are inclined to give you the same information that you are already telling yourself. This is particularly true within organizations where someone controls power and influence over others. Most people are simply unlikely to give a counter opinion to the boss.
That idea, of course, leads to a different blog post about how to help people in your organization find their voice. We’ll talk about that at a later time. For now, just realize that you must do all in your power to build a trust environment that will encourage free expression of ideas, especially if the point of view is counter to the boss.
And equally in your own life, you need a court jester. You need someone who is willing to help you see what you can’t see, remember what you can’t remember. The mind is a tricky thing. Don’t allow yourself to become blind to the fact that you are, we are all walking around with blindspots. Develop a willingness to hear from others so that you can begin to really see what is going on.