Why I assume I'm below average
Ninety-three percent of drivers claim to be safer-than-average drivers.
Ninety-four percent of leukemia patients think they are in better health than the average leukemia patient.
Ninety-five percent of Fortune 500 CEOs believe they are better leaders than your average CEO.
Don’t even get me started on athletes or salespeople.
Scientists have given this flaw in our programming fancy names like: the superiority bias, the leniency error, and the sense of relative superiority. But I’m not a scientist, and I don’t play one on the Internet, so I simply call it — being American.
When I first learned about this, it rattled me to my core. But, like everyone else, I still thought, “That obviously can’t be true, but I really am above average, right Mom?!” Then I caught myself falling into the same foolish trap.
This realization troubled me for quite some time. What if I really wasn’t as great as I thought I was? But I also wondered if there could be a way to use this to our advantage?
So I thought, “Ah, screw it, why not believe the exact opposite?” Now I automatically assume I’m below average, no matter what Mom says.
This has worked surprisingly well. I talk less and listen more. I get really curious. I’ve ceased to believe others are stupid. Because I know I can learn something from everyone no matter who they are or what they’ve accomplished.
To assume we’re below average is to acknowledge we’re still learning. We eat a slice of humble pie, instead of resting on our laurels.
Most of us are so concerned about being caught as an imposter that we never do anything meaningful. Most of us are so concerned about doing something meaningful that we never do much of anything.
We silence that inner imposter when we recognize we’re just students, and our current actions as just practice reps.
PS — All of those statistics are fake. But my point is real.
Likes and comments below
Interesting take!
And i think its a very good way to think "most of the time".
But i also do find, at least for myself, to look at myself honestly and say... What am I relatively bad at ? And what am I relatively better at than most people?
For example, i generally find im much more systematic and disciplined than others. And its this belief that has allowed me to jump into new areas relatively confident and be successful.
Whereas if i just said.. well im below avg in everything.. i probably wouldnt have taken that leap.
So thats the only case where i do think a bit of... "im better than most mofos at this specific thing" is a bit beneficial...
"I simply call it — being American." : )