In this episode, we explore the 10% rule - the idea that in disagreement, the other person is at least 10% right. This is a tool for conflict abatement and resolution.

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. However, this can be detrimental to collaboration and creativity.

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.”

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.

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For full show notes of this episode and all sorts of other goodies, visit our podcast website

We discuss

The sublime feeling of basking in our own rightness
How to operationalize the 10% rule
Don't lie and try to appease
Yes vs No. And vs But.
All the buts in your day
The 10% Rule in real-time

102. Ten Percent of a Bad Idea | Why your gut reaction may lead you astray

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