August 22, 2022

Ever been certain of something, and wrong?

single pearl on the ground

Have you ever been really certain of something, only later to find out you were wrong?

Have you ever dismissed an idea as utter rubbish only to find out later that it has some validity?

I know that I have. We have all had these experiences. What can we learn from them?

Next time you are presented with a new idea, give the idea some wiggle room rather than immediately condemning or approving it.

Maybe it is valid, maybe it isn’t, but be curious, especially if it is something someone else has thought through. How did they get to a different conclusion?

In the words of Chester Barnard, “It is what we think we know that keeps us from learning.”

The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance – it is our illusion of knowledge and our desire for certainty.

You may have heard the expression “casting pearls before swine”.

Is your need for certainty so great that you miss the occasional pearl cast upon your path?

Your friends are curiosity, respect, empathy, and of course, courage.

My best wishes, Paul

Paul Matthews

CEO and Founder of People Alchemy

share this article:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

related posts

Reflections on EdCrunch X 2023

Well, that was an experience! Pauls Matthews reflections on speaking at the EdCrunch conference in Almaty in Kazakhstan this week. ...
Read More
To do list on a clipboard next to a laptop

Getting on top of your to-do list

Most people feel de-motivated and overwhelmed when they look at a to do list any longer than 10 different tasks. ...
Read More
Black drawing of coke bottle with bubbles coming out of the top

What is the brand of L&D?

Here is a little experiment to find out what the brand of Learning & Development is in your organisation and ...
Read More
Camera on a tripod pointing down a railway track

Models of learning transfer

There are over 20 learning transfer models that have been proposed in what has become a field of study within ...
Read More

search blog

Get your free weekly tip

You agree that we can keep a record of your details, and send you other occasional offers. See our Privacy Policy