Confirm…

Leaders, I’ve discovered, have a different kinda confirmation bias. Just to be clear, the normal confirmation bias according to modern medicine, is a cognitive bias that favors information which confirms previously held beliefs. Once we come to deeply believe something we tend to suffer from this confirmation bias. Makes sense. Leaders tend to have another one too…

Leaders,when it comes to giving feedback to those within their system, tend to assume no news is good news. No news equals good news. So, when they notice Sally doing something right they tend to smile inside and move along. Leaders, remember, have lots of problems on their mind. They assume when you aren’t one of them you know this from the lack of attention your way. Teammates tend to assume something else. When it comes to their leader, no news is bad news. No news equals bad news. Most teammates assume the worst when met with a leadership information vacuum. Yikes.

Today, when you notice someone in your system doing something good, take the time to confirm what you are thinking with a few words. Confirm the progress you see. Your confirmation does not have to come with any big declaration. Simply confirm the behavior. This will give your teammate an incredible does of courage. You see, your team thinks no news is bad news. Leaders default to no news is good news. Develop a bias toward confirming your team. This would be a great addition to modern medicines definition, now wouldn’t it.

When you go home, practice a bit more of the same. Confirm your spouse or son. Confirm your dad or daughter. Confirm those you love. Extraordinary moments are made with just a few timely words expressing something beautiful you are feeling toward another. Practice this, friend. Confirm don’t assume. Confirm. You and your teams just got better. Good…