Business people need to be scientific in how to look at their business, their markets and how they decisions. If they do, they may be lucky enough to thrive for a while, but ultimately and inevitably end in ruin.

Let me be clear what I mean by the term "science" here. I do not mean to biology, chemistry, physics or any other examples of curricula that limit our thinking and to be honest, put us out of issue.  What I mean by science (in the pretentious way possible) is a method and a mentality of trying to find the truth of a situation or issue or problem, and caring first about finding the truth, whatever that truth turns to be.

It is not making an argument or prove a point. As soon as you start looking to defend a position or prove a point, then you're not a scientist, no matter what their qualifications or credentials. Mr. Dawkins, seeking to prove that God does not exist, is not a scientist. their opponents, the creationists trying to find evidence that He exists, are not scientists either. Nor is any person who selects the information to justify themselves, instead of seeking information and quality testing of their thinking to challenge themselves.

Therefore, true science is more often exposed to scenarios where people need to get results, regardless of justification or excuse, such as sports or gardening or medicine or the judge in the courtroom, and you see less often where people need to be right, such as politics, interest groups, sales or the attorney in the courtroom.

Science and the scientific method, is partly a thought is skill. for clear break a problem into discrete components analysis with a knife, using crystal clear thought to hang the parts together, making their assumptions and gaps explicit knowledge in using data to test hypotheses and project completion; amending the conclusion according to what the facts say, and then a challenge that a new turn. repeat this in an unending process until you have found an answer with which you satisfied. But the method is not something you want to go into more here, because for most people the method is not the main theme.

The main issue is mindset. This mindset is deliberately challenging about their knowledge in the search for the truth of a situation and, above all, be happy to change their point of view as the balance of the facts is not dictates. collection data to make an argument or demonstrate a track record point. This is an aspect of rhetoric, which is a noble art, but is not science. And unfortunately this point, the test seems a strong instinct in the way our minds work that the unrest to challenge our thinking and conclusions.

I'll give you a example of how easy it is to fall into the rhetorical mindset. run training sessions for management consultants in the principles and practice of the method of consultation which is basically the scientific Everyone method. general, learn scientific techniques to reach the heart of problems and difficult issues crack in a rigorous objective and credible way. that is until that divides students into teams and ask them, as an exercise, I knew the case for the retention or abolition royalty. give the names of the teams: "realistic" and "Republicans". A as soon as they are given the positions of my students turn in goal aggressive rhetoric of scientists, looking for evidence that supports their position. for a team to the massive cost to taxpayers of the royal family, while other searches as hard for the vital tourism revenue they bring to country. They can not help themselves in this unilateral self-justification behaviour. And I see this same behavior in myself and every other day.

Now let me come around to what all this means for business. First, of course, there is a time for rhetoric and make an argument that is always convince someone in a sale, securing funding, or contract a super-star graduate. But if you want the truth about a subject, and make the best decision for you and your own business, you need the scientist is mindset. necessary to be humble about their preconceived notions, be challenged, and be prepared for the discomfort of receiving and making challenging. As soon as stop doing that and start building a fortress of the facts to support his rhetoric, which is on the road to ruin, with self-justification, after the streamlining and excuses the whole way.

So I leave you with a couple of questions to ask about any matter that is facing. Are you being a scientist and trying to find the truth about any matter that concerns you, or you are the selection of facts to feel better and prove a point? Are you trying to make the patient healthy or trying to sell you some snake oil?

Copyright Latitude 2009. All rights reserved.
Latitude Partners Ltd
19 Bulstrode Street, London W1U 2JN

Steven Hacking is Managing Partner of Latitude Partners Ltd, http://www.latitude.co.uk. He consults, speaks, trains and runs workshops in all of his article subjects.

For his blog of regular insights, visit http://stevehacking.blogspot.com.

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