We all experience the world through our own perceptions. But the way we see reality depends entirely on the information available to us. What seems obvious to one person might look completely different to another. Before forming an opinion, we should ask ourselves: Do I have all the relevant facts?
The 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zurich kicked off with extreme weather conditions. A storm forced us to delay the start of the competition by almost an hour. But from the main grandstand, the situation didn’t seem alarming – which frustrated the TV broadcasters who didn’t understand the decision.
As the event’s CEO, I was put under pressure by a German television station demanding an explanation for this “scandal.” But just as I was about to speak on camera, Swiss television broadcasted live footage from a stadium two kilometers away – where the storm was wreaking havoc. Suddenly, the outrage vanished. Instead of defending our decision, I was able to explain how we had prepared for such extreme situations.
The lesson? Information dictates perspective! Depending on what facts we have, we can draw completely different conclusions.
To make truly informed decisions, we need to distinguish between different types of information:
1. News Information – A Single Fact Can Change Everything
Imagine you’re holding a book with a blue cover. The person in front of you only sees the back – which is red. So, who’s right? Both! Once you have the full picture, you realize that the book is both blue and red.
This is exactly how news information works: when we receive the right facts, our perspective can shift instantly.
2. Knowledge Information – The Difference Between Surface-Level Understanding and True Expertise
Knowledge goes beyond simple facts – it’s built on true expertise. A famous example comes from Max Planck, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist.
After receiving the award, Planck traveled across Germany, delivering the same lecture on quantum mechanics again and again. His chauffeur, who accompanied him, memorized the speech and jokingly suggested that he could present it himself.
In Munich, they put this idea to the test – the chauffeur went on stage and delivered the lecture flawlessly. But then, a tough question came from the audience. His response? “I never expected such a simple question in a city as advanced as Munich! I’ll let my chauffeur answer it.” Moral of the story? Knowing a speech by heart is not the same as truly understanding a topic.
3. Experience-Based Information – Knowledge Alone Is Not Enough
In 2004, I became General Manager of America’s Cup-winning team Alinghi. Although I wasn’t a sailor, I absorbed vast amounts of knowledge about the sport in record time. But the one thing I couldn’t replace was own experience. In the America’s Cup, sailors risk their lives. Understanding safety risks at sea isn’t something you can learn from books – it has to be experienced. That’s why, despite my budgetary authority, I left critical safety decisions to our most experienced sailors – a humble acknowledgment of their firsthand experience.
4. Collective Information – The Power of Teams
We live in a world where the volume of available information is exploding. No single person can process it all. That’s where teams come in.
In an increasingly interconnected world, teams aren’t just valuable—they’re essential. Only by pooling diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise can we make truly well-rounded decisions.
Before forming your next opinion, ask yourself: Am I missing key information? If so, what exactly do I need to know?
At the Mission Team Workshop, you’ll learn how to exchange information effectively, leverage different perspectives, and identify which team members excel at data, facts, and analytics – versus those who have a special talent for interpersonal intelligence.
Unlock the full power of information and make your team stronger than ever!
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