How To Win An Argument With An Ignorant Person

BEGINNINGS
Looks like I get to tell an original story…

Well, here we are. I almost can’t believe I’m typing this and anticipating hitting publish. Like many before me, I felt I had at least a few topics to share and explore with other thinkers and doers but wasn’t quite at the point of “go.”

Funny, because I have been researching, writing, and discussing the one topic I most wanted to explore for years.

The topic?

Human skills (aka “soft skills”; but more appropriately power skills).

And here I am passing GO.

The straw that broke the camel’s back?

I was reading the recent Forbes article by Rachel Wells titled The Top 10 In-Demand Soft Skills To Learn In 2024, Based On Research.

Rachel references research from the World Economic Forum’s Skills Outlook for the Future of Jobs 2023 report and analysis from CashNet USA of more than 17 million American job listings on Indeed.com.

The World Economic Forum’s research concluded that "emerging technologies such as generative AI are reshaping workforce demands, and employers are placing greater emphasis on 'soft' skills. These skills allow companies to respond to change and are resistant to automation."

The analysis from CashNet USA resulted in 10 soft skills being identified as the greatest priority in the United States.

1. Strategic thinking

2. Negotiation

3. Persuasion

4. presentation skills

5. Critical thinking

6. Mentoring

7. Emotional intelligence

8. Innovation

9. Financial management

10. Resilience

This all resonated with me and aligned with my research and experience.

When researching my book, Fired Up! A Guide to Transforming Your Team from Burnout to Engagement, I became increasingly convinced that in a world enamored with technological advancement (e.g., AI), the true competitive edge lies in human skills like emotional intelligence, persuasive communication, empathy, leadership, and creative problem-solving (skills we will explore more).

But, It’s not about competing with technological advancements like AI—it's about leveraging our uniquely human capabilities along with technological advancements to lead, inspire, and make a lasting impact.

Regardless of the era, technological advancements happen within the context of human interaction.

I mentioned this during a conversation with a colleague about the rise of AI in society and organizations and how it is a different technology but is still technology. And while technology does usher in change, the future, in many ways has and will belong to those who master the human skills that AI (and other technologies) cannot replicate.

The thought became a thing.

The Human Skills Edition—your newly unlocked resource for mastering the competencies that set us apart in an AI-driven world.

I hope it's not just a newsletter but a weekly catalyst, designed to ignite your creative thinking, influence, innovation, and career growth.

Thanks for joining the conversation!

CONSIDER THIS
The Unlikely Muse: How AI is Redefining Creativity

This myth has been circulating the digital water cooler: AI is the nemesis of human creativity, a cold, calculating machine churning out solutions that supposedly leave no room for human imagination.

It's an easy narrative to buy into, especially in a world where we're quick to pit technology against human capability. But what if I told you that's not the whole story?

What if AI isn't the villain in our creative tale, but a hidden ally?

I remember sitting in on a brainstorming session that was going nowhere. We were trying to figure out a new communication strategy, and every idea felt rehashed or uninspired. Out of frustration, we turned to an AI tool, more as a joke than anything.

We fed it the basics of what we were looking for and waited for the punchline.

But the joke was on us.

The ideas it threw back were great. They were fresh, unexpected, and exactly the kind of out-of-the-box thinking we weren’t getting at that moment.

This experience flipped my perspective on creativity and AI on its head. Instead of seeing AI as a creativity killer, I started to view it as a catalyst for innovation.

So, here's my actionable tip, straight from the trenches: make AI your brainstorming partner. Don't just reserve it for analytical tasks while keeping the creative domain exclusively human. Input your initial thoughts and see what it comes up with.

You might be surprised by the creativity of a machine.

But more importantly, you'll be inspired by how it amplifies your creative potential. Use those AI-generated ideas not as final solutions but as springboards for your innovation. Expand them, refine them, and let them evolve into something uniquely human.

Although technology and creativity are often seen at odds, embracing AI as a partner in the creative process offers a new path forward.

It's about leveraging the best of both worlds to unlock a level of innovation we've only just begun to explore. Let's not confine AI to the realm of cold calculation. Instead, let's welcome it into our creative spaces as the muse it can be, pushing us toward ideas and solutions we might never have reached on our own.

SKILL SPOTLIGHT
The Art of Arguing with the Uninformed

Ever tried to win an argument with someone who just doesn't get it? It's like playing chess with a pigeon.

No matter how strategic your moves, the pigeon just struts around, knocking over pieces, oblivious to the rules of the game. This is what it feels like to argue with someone who's, let's say, less informed.

You bring your facts, evidence, and well-crafted arguments, yet it feels like you're speaking different languages.

We often think that the more evidence we pile up, the more undeniable our argument becomes.

Logic dictates that evidence should be the end-all, right?

But here's the twist: when you're dealing with someone who hasn't quite embraced the joy of being informed, evidence often falls on deaf ears.

Our first instinct is to double down, to pile on more facts, more data, hoping that sheer volume will break through.

It's like trying to light a wet match; no matter how many times you strike, it just won't ignite.

The real challenge isn't about winning the argument; it's about understanding the gap.

An uninformed stance often comes not from a lack of information but from a different perspective or a deep-seated belief that's immune to your facts.

The goal, then, shifts from winning to bridging that gap, from arguing to enlightening.

Two Moves to Make:

1. Listen More Than You Speak: It sounds counterintuitive, especially when you're itching to correct every misconception. But listening gives you insights into their perspective, and their reasons for holding onto their views. It's like gathering intel; the more you know, the better you can tailor your approach.
   

2. Ask Questions: Instead of bombarding them with facts, lead them with questions. It's a bit like inception; you're planting seeds of doubt about their stance, encouraging them to arrive at the truth on their own.
   
   Questions can disarm and open up a space for genuine dialogue, where your evidence can finally take root.

Arguing with someone who's not on the same page can feel like a Sisyphean task. But remember, it's not about the victory lap; it's about planting seeds of knowledge and understanding.

Sometimes, the best you can hope for is to leave them with a question that gnaws at them, a crack in their armor of ignorance through which the light of evidence can, one day, break through.

Let's not aim to win arguments; let's aim to open minds.