Cognitive Dissonance, Tension and Stress, Oh My!

The Growth Equation podcast by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness (https://thegrowtheq.com/ - the authors of Peak Performance, a favorite book of mine) recently discussed cognitive dissonance and ways to combat it. This is really about decision-making in general. We do not like tension or disagreement. When we hear a fact that does not support a key belief, we seek to eliminate that stress, often by explaining away this new information. In fact, we can get quite creative doing mental gymnastics to get rid of or ignore tension.

One exercise I do with clients is reexamine key assumptions around important decisions. Here are some questions to ask yourself when going through this exercise:

1.  Where do I feel stressed?
2.  Where am I being defensive?
3.  What am I missing?
4.  What could go wrong?

One other thing you should do more often: Lean into tension. Embrace it, examine it, and learn what it is telling you. I have even heard it said that bad habits are a way to avoid dealing with tension.

I recently led a client through this exercise with amazing results. We achieved breakthroughs in a realignment of personnel to better execute on plans, including promoting two people and reassigning two others. I also use this exercise regularly to help clients sharpen messaging and preparing for fundraising pitches.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in making new landscapes but in having new eyes."

- Marcel Proust

 L.M. Boyd was a newspaper columnist whose nationally syndicated column was a collection of miscellaneous trivial and amusing facts. To add a little lighthearted fair, I thought I would periodically share some of his anecdotes. Here goes:

If you are ever in Antarctica and charged by an enraged polar bear, dive to your left. 90% of polar bears are left-pawed and the first swat will probably be to your right. After that, you are on your own.