There are tons of people without opinions. Believe me. They just don’t put them on CNN because it makes for boring television.
But because our media culture relentlessly rewards the outspoken, it’s easy to feel like you have to have an opinion on every issue, on every decision.
Don’t. There are simply too many issues to be well informed or care about every single one. And when you’re not or you don’t, you’re more prone to certain biases.
As Daniel Kahneman points out in his book Thinking Fast and Slow, when asked to answer a complex question we often unknowingly answer an easier one instead:
Complex question we’re supposed to answer:
How should financial advisers who prey on the elderly be punished?
Easier question we answer instead:
How much anger do I feel when I think of financial predators?
Not the same question at all is it?
If you do have an opinion on everything, consider how many of those opinions are misguided, adding to the noise and clouding the debate?
Sometimes the greatest contribution you can make is no contribution at all.
Al Pittampalli is a meeting culture warrior. He's on a mission to change the way organizations hold meetings, make decisions, and coordinate action.