Ray Dalio, Co-Chief Investment Officer & Co-Chairman of Bridgewater Associates, L.P./Linked In
How would you approach the debate when all/most participants are experienced and knowledgeable in the topic at hand as is reasonable to expect in a high functioning executive environment? Say Babe Ruth, Micky Mantle, Hank Aaron type co-workers discussing what direction to move in.
Answer:
If you’re smart and lucky enough to triangulate with three great experts (like Babe Ruth, Micky Mantle, Hank Aaron about baseball) you don’t have to split hairs about who is slightly more or less believable than the other. You just need to have them make clear what they agree and disagree on, listen to them to debate their disagreements to learn the pros and cons of their positions and then make a decision. It’s far better than making a decision based just on what you know (which is how most people make them). Frankly, if you got and implement the concept of how important it is to not be attached to your own opinions and how enormously beneficial it is to triangulate well with experts, you’ve got all you need – everything else is insignificant.