Notes on Leading

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The tyranny of right answers

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The tyranny of right answers

Doug Sundheim
Sep 14, 2022
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Share this post

The tyranny of right answers

dougsundheim.substack.com

Right answers 
Like tyrants
Are seductive. 
They promise
A problem solved. 
Uncertainty removed.
Anxiety decreased. 
Path forward clear. 

Right answers
Like tyrants
Appear to be saviors 
At first. 

That is 
Until 
Right answers
Like tyrants
Slowly 
Imperceptibly
Seemingly justifiably 
Kill questions
Shut down critical thinking 
And close off dialogue. 

Before long
Right answers
Like tyrants
Demand loyalty. 
Questioning them
Incurs a wrath.
So we don’t. 
Power grows 
And growth stalls.

We must
Dig into big problems
Find creative answers
And act on them.
But we must also
Hold those answers loosely
Stay curious
And leave room 
For better answers.

The moment
We think
An answer is right
We plant
A seed of tyranny.

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The tyranny of right answers

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