Basketball: Advice

Logic and advice follow our motivated reasoning. 

• "We can think we are being objective...and still wind up ruining the life of an innocent man." (the story of Albert Dreyfus)
• "Scout mindset is the drive to find out what's really there." 
• Curiosity, virtue in testing beliefs, and self-worth centered on the facts not ideology predicts good judgment. 
• "We need to learn how to feel proud...when we notice we might have been wrong."

Good leaders value openness. They listen to develop the best plan not just their plan. Leaders are accountable...for good and bad choices.

Part of receiving and giving good advice is developing mentors, past and present. Good advice is timeless. Mentors provide a process and counsel allowing leaders to make more informed choices. 

Navy Captain Tom Walsh is one of my most important mentors. Tom warned us about bad decisions, "you're following a lit fuse." Embracing bad ideas usually blows up. 

And Captain William Baker taught, "good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment." 

Both mentors and leaders should remember to "never give advice you can't take." Play to your strengths.

What is our advice process? Be credible. Add credibility with "I'm not sure" or "let me think about it." 

Separate 'advice' from influence strategies. Design advice for the recipient not the source. The Cialdini principles above our about influence not advice. Experts can err (John Meriwether, When Genius Failed). The popular choice fails (the global financial crisis, Tulipmania). Reciprocity. Quid pro quo (if you send that princely emailer $1500, he'll send you a million.) The Winner's Curse is overpaying for scarcity (e.g. free agents). 

How can we recognize good advice? 

• Good advice is honorable. 
• Good advice is truthful.
• Good advice varies with the circumstances.  
• Good advice weighs the roles of probability and luck (Thinking in Bets).   
• Good advice weighs inversion, the (what if?) opposite choice.
• Good advice doesn't come with guarantees. 

2 Minutes on Inversion Who is on the other side of the trade? 

When asked about the "best basketball advice" Jason Kidd got, he said, "Slow down...let the play unfold." 

Want advice from ten elite coaches? 

Here is some of the best advice I've ever given: 

• "In medicine, the best answer can be, "I don't know." Time helps reveal answers.
• At Annapolis, plebes need five answers, "Yes, sir. No, sir. Aye, aye, sir. Right away, sir. I don't know but I'll find out, sir." 
• "I believe in you. Play like you believe in yourself." 

Lagniappe: From Extreme Ownership (thoughts on great leadership)

Lagniappe 2: Spurs Double Curl, Double Staggered Screen