May 13, 2015

Are you sure?


Spreadsheets look so certain. Presenters are trained to convince. Everyone wants to look good. And most of the time you can rely on what they say.

But what happens if you get that feeling … something isn’t right? That the idea or the premise or the data or maths is wrong? That the chips don’t stack?

One option is to let it go. Assume you’re missing something and that the credible source has reliable reasons. “You know what, they’re probably right.”

Best case: they’re right.

Worst case: there’s a London Whale size error that puts $6bn at risk.

Or you could ask, “Are you sure?”

Best case: they explain their thinking and you move on to the next thing.

Worst case: they explain their thinking, discover the error, fix it, and move on to the next thing.

Voice your suspicions.

Skippy Strategy: The next time something feels wonky, “Are you sure?”