I can empathise with the discomfort that arises when first leaning into this.
Powerful skills.
At the polar opposite end of this discomfort and leaning in to state the obvious is something darker I’ve observed..
I’ve witnessed overconfidence and cognitive dissonance brought on by bypassing ideas that challenge the status quo. Especially with the phrase “in my experience”.. as a quasi self justification tool for abdicating responsibilities.
I say this not to shoot down the idea, but rather to highlight this sword has two edges.
Interesting. Can you share a couple of examples of scenarios where the "in my experience..." is used to abdicate responsibility in the way you're referencing so readers know what to look out for?
Imagine a team meeting discussing the implementation of a new software system designed to improve workflow efficiency. One team member expresses concern about the learning curve and potential disruption during the transition period. However, a long-standing member of the team responds, “In my experience, these new systems are more trouble than they’re worth. Our current system works fine if everyone just follows the procedures correctly.”
In this instance, the phrase “In my experience” is employed to resist change, disregarding the potential long-term benefits of updating their technology. The speaker leans on their past encounters to negate present opportunities, thereby hindering innovation and progress. This attitude could potentially keep the team stuck in outdated routines that limit their performance and growth.
I’ve witnessed folks in meetings decide they disagree before a brief is even finished being explained and they’re already queuing their “yes and..” statements.
BUT if you’re sitting on the fence and not speaking up at all, these are excellent tools and I’m not trying to diminish them. Use them, speak up 💯
Yeah in my experience, the problem of people sitting on the fence and not speaking up at all is far greater than the inverse you're describing. Also, the best and most nuanced tools and techniques can be wielded in negative ways with the wrong intent. I would hate for any of my readers to be discouraged to use them, getting caught up in any analysis paralysis our chat here may prompt.
The important thing is - as I know you know and champion yourself - don't hold back from saying something because you think it's going to be too simple or too obvious or make you sound dumb; and there are ways to express yourself that can feel more 'beginner-friendly' and diplomatic to build up a positive confidence-competence loop.
As I wrote right at the end, 'it's often the simplest observations that lead to the most profound changes.' Let's not overcomplicate that point itself, lest the most confident voices always end up being the loudest heard, and quiet wisdom remains stifled.
Fascinating article.
I can empathise with the discomfort that arises when first leaning into this.
Powerful skills.
At the polar opposite end of this discomfort and leaning in to state the obvious is something darker I’ve observed..
I’ve witnessed overconfidence and cognitive dissonance brought on by bypassing ideas that challenge the status quo. Especially with the phrase “in my experience”.. as a quasi self justification tool for abdicating responsibilities.
I say this not to shoot down the idea, but rather to highlight this sword has two edges.
Interesting. Can you share a couple of examples of scenarios where the "in my experience..." is used to abdicate responsibility in the way you're referencing so readers know what to look out for?
For sure. Here’s a fairly common example:
Imagine a team meeting discussing the implementation of a new software system designed to improve workflow efficiency. One team member expresses concern about the learning curve and potential disruption during the transition period. However, a long-standing member of the team responds, “In my experience, these new systems are more trouble than they’re worth. Our current system works fine if everyone just follows the procedures correctly.”
In this instance, the phrase “In my experience” is employed to resist change, disregarding the potential long-term benefits of updating their technology. The speaker leans on their past encounters to negate present opportunities, thereby hindering innovation and progress. This attitude could potentially keep the team stuck in outdated routines that limit their performance and growth.
The other example is for the “yes and..” tool.
I’ve witnessed folks in meetings decide they disagree before a brief is even finished being explained and they’re already queuing their “yes and..” statements.
BUT if you’re sitting on the fence and not speaking up at all, these are excellent tools and I’m not trying to diminish them. Use them, speak up 💯
Yeah in my experience, the problem of people sitting on the fence and not speaking up at all is far greater than the inverse you're describing. Also, the best and most nuanced tools and techniques can be wielded in negative ways with the wrong intent. I would hate for any of my readers to be discouraged to use them, getting caught up in any analysis paralysis our chat here may prompt.
The important thing is - as I know you know and champion yourself - don't hold back from saying something because you think it's going to be too simple or too obvious or make you sound dumb; and there are ways to express yourself that can feel more 'beginner-friendly' and diplomatic to build up a positive confidence-competence loop.
As I wrote right at the end, 'it's often the simplest observations that lead to the most profound changes.' Let's not overcomplicate that point itself, lest the most confident voices always end up being the loudest heard, and quiet wisdom remains stifled.