why facts do not change people - tedx warwick 2015

“Why facts done change people” Scott D McArthur

TEDx Warwick 2015

“Hands up if you would change your diet if a medical doctor told you that you have a particular type of heart disease which if

you don’t radically change your diet there was a 99% chance that you would die soon

if you didn’t”

…wouldn't change even in these life changing circumstances

So here is another story…..

…heard about the Yale Goal study?

So I wondered: “why is there such a gap between the findings of science, academia research vs the practice of businesses and individuals?” and why do we seem to be

drawn to the guru rather than the scientist?

I’m from the darkside

I have spent almost a quarter of a century working in “Human Resources” and as if that isn’t

bad enough, I also worked for 9 years as a “Business Consultant”. Neither profession could

be described as bullshit free.

“Thud Factor”

Solutions in search of a problem

A few years ago I had a life changing experience of my own….

“…from “human remains” to

“human resources”…”

Cognitive Dissonance

“why the apparent difference between academia and business”?

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent…it is the one

that is most adaptable to change“

Charles Darwin

Woops

Pay walls and academic “English”

Abstract

Rigour v

Practice

…when people with strong beliefs are faced with equally strong, opposing beliefs (or facts), their beliefs often

become stronger.

…the facts don’t work?

“…the principle that evidence from independent, unrelated

sources can "converge" to strong conclusions”

Consilience

Stronger conclusions

So what can we learn from the

scientist and the guru without taking sides?

Describe your facts/findings

as a story

Create a good first impression

Appeal to the audiences emotions or needs

Use authority (but not too much)

Investment and commitment to the outcome is important

Encouraging a tribal culture

Check ALL

of the “facts”

Facts don’t change people, understanding

them does

Facts don’t change people understanding

them does

…and from the scientist? “Logic is the beginning of wisdom not the end”

Thanks Spock

To see my full talk click on the image below: