Data to Resolve Uncertainty

Why closing your eyes and leaping isn't the only step to action

I’m Brian and I am curious about this community and the bias towards doing something.

I’m Brian, and I also have a close relationship with cynicism and fear.

It’s comforting to notice complexity and conclude that means I should stay put. Don’t start because… you’ll do it wrong, the idea isn’t formed well enough, you won’t make a drop in the bucket. But who wants to stay there? We have big challenges in our homes and community and globe that won’t budge with cynicism.

So, I’m offering my ear and my “pen” to Act Differently to join up with the doers and see what we can accomplish.

I’ve come to realize that much of our inaction has to do with uncertainty. 

There are amazing people with risk taking in their DNA, but most of us want to know something will work before we invest time, money, relational capital, etc . In my day job, I work in User Experience Research, and I find that work to be the perfect antidote to that uncertainty. My clients are small non-profits and big tech companies, and our work together is to subtly shift their experiences (whether an app, an in person service, or a consumer product) to something more impactful and valuable for the people who use them.

There are some techniques, but 99% of what I do is provide some data to reduce their uncertainty. 

• Have three ideas, let’s test them all and see what works…

• Want to make a big bet? Let’s try it on a small scale first…

• Hoping you have something people love? Let’s stop guessing and talk to them…

These little steps reveal patterns, data, insights that give further confidence. And they have a really small amount of risk. I started this post admitting my fear and cynicism. I think we have to move beyond expecting people to close their eyes and leap, move beyond shame of in-action. Instead, realize you crave certainty and take a small step to build a more firm foundation. How could you start building momentum because the data tells you so? What cynicism can you break away with a measured step?