The first time I heard the term progressive insight was in 1995. It wasn’t an undisputed term. Some colleagues thought it was an excuse for not having to say: “I’m sorry”. To many people, changing your mind is admitting an earlier mistake. Hence, people may expect an apology.
Back then, I learned however that progressive insight is about changing your approach (following receipt of new information), and not about changing your mind and/or beliefs. Hence, there’s no need for expressing a mea culpa or a sorry. Progressive insight is about tactics; not strategy.
In other words: all roads lead to Rome but new roads may be faster. Click diagram to enlarge.
A problem arises once our choices become our beliefs, our tactics become our strategies, and changes are deemed to reveal mistakes, which should be avoided (at all cost).
Not admitting mistakes and/or fearing its consequences can – and thus will – result in a tunnel vision (my blogs).
Political or other scandals are often the end result of the above process (eg, BaFin role in Wirecard scandal, Dutch childcare benefits scandal).
FT, 25 January 2021: “BaFin boss ‘believed’ Wirecard was victim until near the end” and “Felix Hufeld thought short sellers might have faked the disappearance of €1.9bn, three people and document say”.
The above also relates to yesterday’s blog: The fallacy of control. I think, feel and believe that people in executive roles will overestimate their ability to control a certain situation. They are expected to radiate confidence. Believing in that (external) confidence becomes an (internal) trap. Hence, leaders are more likely to pursue a tunnel vision. Also see 2018 article in Entrepreneur.
It’s tempting to assume that the above macro picture does not apply on a micro level (my blogs). Nevertheless, it does apply. Just take dating or relationships, for example.
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word (1976) by Elton John
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise.
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