The amateur who thinks they're an expert.

Let's cut to the chase - we've all been in those meetings. Someone pops up with a question or an idea that, let's be honest, isn't exactly a stroke of genius. And what happens next? 

We all end up chasing our tails, wasting precious time on something that should've been thought through a bit more.

Now, I'm not saying every off-the-cuff idea is bad. But, come on, we've seen where unfiltered 'brainwaves' can lead us. Groupthink kicks in, and before you know it, we're making decisions that, in hindsight, are nothing short of facepalm-worthy.

I've seen it too many times: the most dangerous person in a meeting isn't the one asking questions. It's the amateur who thinks they're an expert. Their half-baked ideas, presented with unwarranted confidence, can lead to real messes in our business.

So, here's how I handle it in my meetings:

Throw any question or idea out there, sure. But, give us a heads-up on how much legwork you've done on it:

- Is it fully vetted?
- Partially vetted?
- Or are you just spitballing here?

This way, we know what we're dealing with. We can give an unvetted idea the brainstorming it needs, or we can tackle a fully vetted one head-on.

To wrap it up, remember: it's not about shooting down ideas or stifling creativity. It's about being smart with our time and not letting groupthink lead us off a cliff. 

We've all seen where that can get us (yeah, I'm looking at you, Covid mask fiascos and 'defund the PoPo' debacles...).

Keep asking, keep thinking, but most importantly – keep it real. 

Till next time,
Gerald