Higher Performance Insights | Game, Set, and Insight of Being Less Wrong

April 23, 2024
higher performance insights

Imagine you’re playing a game of tennis, rallying back and forth, playing with competitive grit, when you slightly lean to the left of the court in the middle of a point. Your better-skilled opponent catches your drift in their peripheral vision and changes their shot at the last second. Game. Set. Match. [1]


In tennis, this is called an unforced error (UE). You lost, not because of your opponent’s expertise but rather because of your poor judgment and execution. To quote Shane Parrish, “Amateurs win the game when their opponent loses points; experts win the game by gaining points.” [2]

Metaphor aside, we can avoid mistakes in life and work, not by being more right but rather by being less wrong. This approach, as James Clear points out, not only prompts more questions but also fosters intellectual humility, a trait that can empower us to navigate the complexities of life with more clarity. [3]


A direct approach to earning more money would be to ask for a raise. An inverse approach, by contrast, would be to limit your expenses. A direct approach to dieting would be following a new diet. An inverse approach, by contrast, would be avoiding unhealthy foods.


Being more right is about chasing the gains; being less wrong is about taking control and limiting the losses, which can help alleviate anxiety and uncertainty. 


Don’t be more right. Be less wrong.


Footnotes

[1] Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCain, in their book Super Thinking: The Big Book of Mental Models, introduced me to unfocused errors and used tennis as a metaphor for being less wrong.

[2] “Parrish, Shane, “Avoiding Stupidity is Easier than Seeking Brilliance.” Farnam Street. June 2017.

[3] Clear, James. (JamesClear). “A Strategy for Thinking Clearly.” 25 July 2019. Tweet.

Announcement


Yep, We Are Expecting!


Exciting news about our new arrival - #CANCELAVERAGE: A Practical Guide to Accelerating Higher Team Performance

This isn't just another HPG book release. As this semester wraps up, we're rolling out a manifesto for those who lead, not because they have to but because they can't not. For those who see leadership as a profound duty to better their team, system, and community—this is for you!

This is about upgrading from good to outstanding. It's not light reading; it's a playbook for the committed. It's for those willing to embrace the struggle, who lead with their minds and the grit in their gut.


If your work is more than a job, this book is your nudge. Get ready for the official release and the #CANCELAVERAGE Keynote Tour, which begins in May, 2024.


Note: If you want to secure your preferred early bird Team Keynote date, email us at info@higherperformancegroup.com. There is no obligation. We will hold the date and follow up with you to confirm.

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