I read recently this fascinating story about how Ted Kennedy worked with doctors to treat his brain tumor in a way that kept him alive longer than anyone thought possible.
For most of us when we get really sick we go to a doctor. They give us a prognosis and then we go to another doctor to get the famed, "Second Opinion."
This is not what Kennedy did. Ted actually put a group of doctors who all disagreed with each other in a room and had them battle it out. A doctor would make a claim or state an opinion and Ted would stop the conversation, look at another doctor and say, "Okay-- so what do you think about that?"
Kennedy believed that this made a huge difference in the treatments and care he received and that it led to his longer struggle with his illness.
Kennedy liked a "Team of Opinions" rather than a "Second Opinion."
What struck me was how brilliant that was, how rarely I practice that same principle in my own relationships and how rarely I hear of that principle on leadership teams.
For me, I tend to go from person to person asking for second or third opinions. Mostly because it's hard to get people in the room together. But how often to I try to get all the opinions to interact with each other?
An ancient proverb says, "For lack of guidance a nation falls. But many advisers make victory sure." I can't help but think this happens when the advisers get to interact with each other, not just with you.
So what would it look like to have teams of opinions in your life and leadership, and not just second opinions?
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killer idea! The thrashing that took place in that process likely created buy-in from all of these doctors who collectively wanted to struggle and fight to keep Ted alive as long as possible. I see this "team of opinions" approach not only benefiting the person seeking wisdom but also the group who are sought out and brought together. I don't see how one could leave that kind of collective experience and not have their investment or passion exponentially grown.
ReplyDeleteYou're right! seven or eight is always better than one or two minds.
ReplyDeleteDo you think there are some situations though where inviting the opinions of the whole team actually hinders progress?
Great question, Luke!
ReplyDeleteI think more opinions definitely slows progress in the short term but helps teams go the distance in the long term.
"More minds" can also be a better plan when you as a leader are looking for advice rather than a template for how to run your teams.
I'm not a "lead by consensus" kind of guy, nor do I expect that from those who lead me. So if there seems to be momentum in a certain direction, everyone has had an opportunity to process and people still can't get on board then they either need to suck it up, take one for the team and live to fight another day or hop off the team altogether.
What do you think?