Is Doubt Really Okay?

Doubt has been on my mind lately. Interestingly enough, Valeria Maltoni (@ConversationAge, founder and co-host of #kaizenblog) emailed me with the idea of discussing doubt as a tool for building a thriving business.  Since we both find Dan Pink interesting, she sent me a link to this article, Can We Fix It Is the Right Question To Ask. Aside from loving the theme of Bob the Builder (there are young people in my life), it was interesting to see someone suggesting that doubt is useful and not to be avoided. Hmm…

Dan Pink writes, “Instead of puffing up himself and his team, [Bob the Builder] firsts wonders whether they can actually meet their goal. In asking his signature question -Can we fix it- he introduces some doubt.” This leads to a conversation of possible options and then a decision is made. The key piece here is the conversation, whether or not it is a “self-conversation”, that is started by doubt.

To me, this is most intriguing! An internal conversation, a ”self-conversation” could allow doubt to be used productively. Why do we avoid doubt? I worry that positive thinking, The Secret, the Law of Attraction may be creating an unfortunate taboo. If we keep focusing on how we’re so special, so wonderful, so magnificent, how do we deepen who we are as people?

There is power in recognizing when we are onto something really big in our work. I see this all the time with my small business clients as they step into new roles that combine the roles of visionary and manager. They wonder deeply if they have the talent, the “right” vision, the best way to communicate with their direct reports. At the same time, they don’t doubt that they will do it. They use coaching to go through the process of asking themselves the questions that clarify their thoughts, emotions, strengths, and weaknesses. There is a humility here knowing that you don’t have all the answers and that asking “can we fix it” creates the opening to see the best way forward.

 Are we truly alive if we avoid negative emotions?

Is doubt that negative?

What if it is really doubt, in addition to belief, that makes executing our strategies possible?