“What People Believe is True is Frequently Wrong”

Why leaders should make data-based decisions.

This is one of my favorite Peter Drucker quotes. It refers to the fact that common wisdom (what the majority believe is true) is often false. Take for example that the majority of Americans believe in paranormal phenomena (e.g., ghosts, ESP), when there has been no scientific evidence to support that belief.

So, what is the point? Leaders need to be critical thinkers — searching for evidence or data to support their beliefs and to aid in making decisions. We should not engage in courses of action, nor believe things, just because they are supported by “most people.”

All too often, leaders are on “autopilot” — charting a course of action that they believe is the right one simply “because others are doing it.” Effective leaders need to be critical thinkers and search for evidence or data to support their assertions and their plans. With the Internet, it is very easy to conduct basic research and not have to take things at face value, because “what people believe is true is frequently wrong.”

For Development: Consider how you obtain evidence to support your beliefs and your plans. How can you improve this? Do you have a strategy for researching questions using reliable and objective online resources?