Higher Performance Insights | Game, Set, and Insight of Being Less Wrong

Apr 23, 2024
higher performance insights

Imagine you’re playing a game of tennis, rallying back and forth, playing with competitive grit, when you slightly lean to the left of the court in the middle of a point. Your better-skilled opponent catches your drift in their peripheral vision and changes their shot at the last second. Game. Set. Match. [1]


In tennis, this is called an unforced error (UE). You lost, not because of your opponent’s expertise but rather because of your poor judgment and execution. To quote Shane Parrish, “Amateurs win the game when their opponent loses points; experts win the game by gaining points.” [2]

Metaphor aside, we can avoid mistakes in life and work, not by being more right but rather by being less wrong. This approach, as James Clear points out, not only prompts more questions but also fosters intellectual humility, a trait that can empower us to navigate the complexities of life with more clarity. [3]


A direct approach to earning more money would be to ask for a raise. An inverse approach, by contrast, would be to limit your expenses. A direct approach to dieting would be following a new diet. An inverse approach, by contrast, would be avoiding unhealthy foods.


Being more right is about chasing the gains; being less wrong is about taking control and limiting the losses, which can help alleviate anxiety and uncertainty. 


Don’t be more right. Be less wrong.


Footnotes

[1] Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCain, in their book Super Thinking: The Big Book of Mental Models, introduced me to unfocused errors and used tennis as a metaphor for being less wrong.

[2] “Parrish, Shane, “Avoiding Stupidity is Easier than Seeking Brilliance.” Farnam Street. June 2017.

[3] Clear, James. (JamesClear). “A Strategy for Thinking Clearly.” 25 July 2019. Tweet.

Announcement


Yep, We Are Expecting!


Exciting news about our new arrival - #CANCELAVERAGE: A Practical Guide to Accelerating Higher Team Performance

This isn't just another HPG book release. As this semester wraps up, we're rolling out a manifesto for those who lead, not because they have to but because they can't not. For those who see leadership as a profound duty to better their team, system, and community—this is for you!

This is about upgrading from good to outstanding. It's not light reading; it's a playbook for the committed. It's for those willing to embrace the struggle, who lead with their minds and the grit in their gut.


If your work is more than a job, this book is your nudge. Get ready for the official release and the #CANCELAVERAGE Keynote Tour, which begins in May, 2024.


Note: If you want to secure your preferred early bird Team Keynote date, email us at info@higherperformancegroup.com. There is no obligation. We will hold the date and follow up with you to confirm.

Like What You've Read?

Get practical, research-based ideas to Accelerate Higher Team Performance delivered straight to your inbox every Tuesday.

More Blog Articles

Higher Performance Insights | Outcome Origami

By Joe Hill • 14 May, 2024
In my Executive Team Coaching practice, I frequently turn to a straightforward yet insightful model—a triangle that outlines the interplay between outcomes, processes, and essence. We often gauge our achievements against others, whether in wealth, system enrollment, or athletic success. However, the real challenge is admiring these achievements and understanding the values and processes driving them. The essence—core attitudes and behaviors—might be compromised by arrogance, greed, or narcissism. Replicating such outcomes can risk engendering a toxic team environment, which is detrimental to retaining talent and achieving sustainable success. Discerning and cultivating a positive essence that supports beneficial outcomes and ethical processes is vital for a thriving system culture. When it comes to success, a watchful eye is crucial. It's all too easy to be swayed by the outcomes and essence of others, particularly when those outcomes are achieved through questionable or unethical means. This can lead to a dangerous trade-off, where we compromise our values and ethics to pursue success.

Higher Performance Insights | Confusing Ends with Means

By Joe Hill • 07 May, 2024
In the spring of 1902, Hanoi, Vietnam, stood on the precipice of its first bubonic plague outbreak. In the preceding years, French colonial efforts had focused on urban modernization, epitomized by the construction of nine miles of sewage infrastructure intended to equip the city with essential services, such as running water and flushing toilets. [1] However, despite the robust construction, the sewers' warm and damp environment unintentionally provided an ideal habitat for plague-carrying rodents. Before long, rats began to infest the streets, inundating Hanoi with unprecedented levels of disease.
Show More
Share by: