There was a time when I was younger that I believed certain things to be true. For a while, there was evidence that I was right. My life proceeded along a path that adhered to those “truths” more or less predictably. For instance, here were 10 things that I thought were true.

1. I would live forever (or at least for a very long time).
2. Good health was a given.
3. My income would always increase.
4. All important relationships would endure.
5. People at work would come to care about me like a family member.
6. All decisions would be between something good and something better.
7. Power would come through my “rank” at work.
8. People would naturally respect me more as I got older.
9. Nothing good could come from bad situations or experiences.
10. The best years in life would be when I was young (think 25).

Depending on your age and experiences, you might be chuckling right now. Maybe you recognize that the wisdom or hopes of a youth don’t always turn out to be true. The fact is that every single truth I held back then has been challenged. I have come to realize that the experiences of life refine and clarify what we hold dearest. My responses (e.g., learning, coping, re-thinking, accepting) to those challenges has led me to new wisdom that is less starry eyed yet richer and more satisfying.

Strategy work is similar for me. There was a time when I thought certain things about doing business strategy. For example, my firmly held “truths” about strategy included the following.

1. The best ideas (i.e. mine) will win.
2. Leaders want and will commonly accept great strategy ideas from subordinates.
3. All important factors affecting strategy would be obvious to me.
4. Peers would be naturally attracted to and supportive of my ideas.
5. Well crafted presentations would ensure that my strategy inputs would be accepted.
6. Everyone would understand what I was saying when I said it.
7. The organization would change to adapt to a new strategy.
8. Someone else would worry about and manage the strategy implementation.
9. Silence in meetings meant agreement.
10. Decisions would always be made in open discussions that I was invited to attend.

Ah, but the years have passed and I have painfully discovered that my understandings needed to change. This is all good (after the pain lessened) because a strategist must have a reflective and learning disposition. Without such a personality, one is doomed to marginalization (and probably a new career in another field). So, we experience, we reflect and we learn. The benefit is that we are disabused of simple notions when they are insufficient and we are enriched with understandings that are powerful.

I am both more humble these days and much better equipped to solve difficult strategy problems with people.

What about you? Are you learning new things as you live life and work on strategy?