MODERN THINKING
The 3 Hidden Benefits of
Doubt: why self-doubt
makes leaders better
By Jason Fox
C
onfidence, certainty and
conviction: these have
traditionally been qualities we’d
associate with a strong leader. And
yet, such strong qualities may be
the very thing preventing meaningful
progress. One of my most
favourite books of 2014 was Oliver
Burkeman’s The Antidote: happiness
for people who can’t stand positive
thinking. In this book Burkeman
challenges many of the conventional
‘positive thinking’ approaches to
happiness, instead advocating
what he calls ‘the negative path’ to
happiness.
Instead of trying to actively pursue
happiness (while trying to avoid or
run away from negative emotions),
Burkeman suggests we instead go
the other way: looking to negative
experiences and embracing the
learning inherent within them. A
similar approach can be applied
to the concepts of clarity and
conviction. If you want these things,
you could set forth a crystal clear
goal. You can make it rock solid,
and temper it with unwavering
persistence and conviction. Or—
you could take a counterintuitive
approach, and turn toward the
42 ModernBusiness
May 2016
hidden benefits of doubt. Let’s look
at a few of these.
1
Doubt makes ideas stronger
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
once said that “Doubt grows with
knowledge.” Likewise, Bertrand
Russell once quipped that“The
fundamental cause of trouble in the
world today is that the stupid are
cocksure while the intelligent are full
of doubt.”
It’s quite apparent that doubt is
fundamental to discovery. It’s an
inherent element of the scientific
method, and the precursor to all
great questions and breakthroughs.
Doubt births wisdom and is
deeply linked to quality ideas. It’s
uncomfortable, sure — but we know
that all growth and development
happens just outside our comfort
zone. The best business strategy
sessions I’ve facilitated and
experienced are the ones that are
full of angst and doubt. They’re not
joyous or comfortable — they’re a
hard and frustrating kind of fun.
Quick fixes are resisted, and time
is spent within the held tension of
uncertainty. From this space, new
ideas and pathways emerge that
would not have been possible if
we were simply ticking boxes and
following a rushed agenda. Doubt
makes us ask more questions —
better questions — which makes us
explore more pathways. This, in turn,
can lead to more clarity, confidence
and conviction. We see more,
and through the pursuit of good
questions; we know more.
2
Doubt makes leaders better
Have you ever felt that, sooner or
later, your colleagues and everyone
around you will realise that you’re
not as smart as people think you are.
That you are not really that qualified
for the position you hold. And that
one day people will point at you and
shout impostor! — exposing you for
the fraud that you are.
I get that feeling nearly all the time.
It’s called the impostor syndrome.
It’s the scenario whereby we
constantly compare ourselves
to our talented peers. Or more
specifically, we compare our own
doubt-ridden internal perceptions
with the confident facade that others
project. We feel that there is a big
discrepancy — but for all we know,
they could be full of self-doubt too.