In this episode, we explore the 10% rule – the idea that in disagreement, the other person is at least 10% right.
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Pod synopsis…
We are right, they are wrong
It’s easy to get caught up in the rightness of our own opinions and ideas – whether it’s in medicine, business, leadership, relationships, or any time we interact with others. But this can be detrimental to collaboration and creativity.
The 10% rule
The basics of the 10% rule are simple. When presented with an idea that your gut reaction is to reject, find the 10% value.
For example, someone says to you, “I’m thinking of buying one of the decommissioned space shuttles so I can get to work faster.” On the surface, you might think that’s moronic. But what’s the 10% in there? Maybe it’s that they’re thinking of a way to improve the commute to work. So instead of completely rejecting the idea, you could say, “What I like about that idea is less commuting stress and getting to work faster. Let’s build on that and see what other ideas we can come up with.”
Don’t Lie
The 10% rule is different than saying you like the idea itself because that might be a lie. You might not like the idea in total, but there’s almost certainly 10% in there that you do like. By finding that 10%, you can build on it and create a more collaborative interaction.
Yes vs No. And vs But.
In the Spock retreat, we discussed how we react when we’re told no. It’s not a warm and fuzzy place.
With the 10% rule, you’re saying yes to a splinter of the idea – and then building on it. This is similar to the keystone of improv, “…yes, and…”
The word and builds. The word but tears down. “And” is quiet collaboration. “But” is quiet rebuke.
And is critical to the 10% rule. Compare these two sentences from a vingette where two people are discussing different reimbursement strategies.
With AND: What I like about this idea is rewarding productivity, AND let’s build on that to incorporate hospital citizenship and quality of care.
With BUT: What I like about this idea is rewarding productivity, BUT it doesn’t incorporate hospital citizenship and quality of care.
There’s a subtle shift, when that but comes out, there is a natural internal defensive posture for both parties.
How many BUTS are in your day?
If you pay attention to all the buts in your day, you will probably be surprised by their prevalence – not in how many are said to you, also in how many you say.
The 10% Rule in Real Time
Suppose you’re an emergency medicine attending physician supervising trainees. Your jobs are to make sure the patients are safe and to teach. A trainee presents a patient with ‘worst headache ever’ and says, “This sounds like a really bad tension or migraine. It doesn’t look too serious. Let’s do a sphenopalatine ganglion block and send him home.”
There’s a lot to like in that! A nerve block to help symptoms, getting the guy home. There’s a lot to not like in that, such as not thinking about other possibilities or potential life threats.
How do we 10% this?
“I like that we’re getting on symptom management right out of the gate, and you’ve got discharge planning already in mind. Let’s put that on the shelf for a moment and think about the potential serious things that could be going on and make sure we’re not missing anything. What else is on the differential diagnosis here?”
It can be a subtle shift. It’s the difference between being categorically shut down versus somebody taking you seriously or at least listening.
Further reading
Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine.
I’m not sure who came up with the term ‘10% rule’ but I first heard it in a Positive Intelligence Coach’s course, so I’ll give credit there. If I’m misattributing it, please let me know!
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