How often have you mumbled under your breath “Are you kidding me?” or “Their judgment stinks,” after watching someone make what appears to be a really, really bad choice? For example, the National Institutes of Health funded a $2.6 million study to make sure prostitutes in China drink responsibly on the job. Or how about this one – an energy company CEO spent $5.9 million of company money on NBA tickets for a team he partially owns! While any honest leader will attest to the fact that they have made more than one poor choice in their life, we usually only hear about the WHAT part of poor judgment and much less about the WHY or HOW of it. As you think about the times when your judgment stunk or even the two examples noted above, here are the top eight reasons that most often contribute to poor judgment. And there is often more than one of these at work when judgment goes awry.
1. “It’s no one else’s business but my own.”
From my experience, one of the biggest predictors of poor judgment is unhealthy secrecy. In her book Anatomy of a Secret Life, Dr. Gail Saltz says, “Secrets can cause people to behave in ways that seem entirely out of character – to go to any desperate length to conceal what simply must be hidden, at all costs.” Secrecy can be fueled by guilt and shame or by pride and arrogance. But in the end, secrecy prevents others from helping us to avoid making a bad decision or making a bad situation even worse.
2. “I’m smart, and I know what I am doing.”
60 Days In is a reality show where people are chosen to go undercover in prisons in order to help the warden learn about the weaknesses of the jail. The goal is to last for 60 days. What surprised me about this show was how quickly some of the most confident people quit. They thought they were smart enough and strong enough, but they weren’t. Overconfidence, especially pride, can lead any one of us to judgment that stinks.
3. “It worked for me (or others) in the past.”
When a person tests the ice and it doesn’t crack, they walk out further. The more they get away with something, the more confident they become. Or, when they see others get away with it, they feel like they can too. Taking “a little” money from your employer, “flirting around a bit” with someone, or “slightly exaggerating” your accomplishments and connections can lead someone to keep taking just one more step until the ice cracks and poor judgment takes him/her down. Many years ago, I had a conversation with a client who expressed this type of attitude which created an unhealthy sense of entitlement. And that entitlement combined with “It worked for me in the past” resulted in a heightened sense of invincibility until… he wasn’t.
4. “I have earned it!”
“I have worked very hard.” “I am underappreciated.” “I do all the work, and others make more than me.” Poor judgment often is fed by a belief that you are worthy and entitled. And sometimes, when we are not receiving what we believe is owed to us, we find a workaround to get it. In the Bible, the book of James says it this way, “You desire and do not have, so you murder.” Fortunately, not all entitlement ends in murder, but it often does end in damage.
5. “My drinking or medication has nothing to do with it.”
While not always the case, I have seen alcohol and other substances as co-conspirators to stinky judgment. Just think back to your high school or college days (enough said). In high school, I had a friend who was a great guy, friendly, and fun. But when he got a few too many beers in him, he liked to fight with strangers! While he was a good fighter, the outcomes of such judgment could have been deadly. There are times when even legitimate medication may indirectly contribute to someone’s brain not functioning well and critical thinking becoming muted. Don’t underestimate the influence of such substances when you see someone manifesting poor judgment.
6. “Stop questioning my mental health, I am fine!”
I am not a psychologist, but I have worked with people long enough to see the effects of unrecognized and unmanaged mental health challenges. I remember reading the story of a woman who struggled with severe mental health issues but was also brilliant and attending an ivy league university. She talked about how, at times, she could not see herself accurately and that when close friends would try to help her, she would resist because she thought she was “fine.” Certain mental health issues left untreated can skew one’s judgment resulting in damaging outcomes.
7. “I’m under so much pressure; I can’t think straight.”
I recently read of a grandmother who was scammed out of $8,000 by someone impersonating her grandson. The scammer said he was in jail and needed her to pay his defense attorney to get him out. “There were so many red flags. I just didn’t think about it. I was so emotional.” Research has shown that under pressure, people’s decision-making can be greatly impacted and result in really damaging judgment.
8. “I am so angry; I just don’t care anymore.”
Anger is a normal emotion and one that we have all experienced. It commonly emerges when we feel taken advantage of, disrespected, threatened, or embarrassed. Part of maturity is learning how to manage anger. While few people do this with perfection, some people are underdeveloped in managing their emotions. And when anger builds up, people can make decisions without any consideration for the long-term consequences. The end product is often really stinky judgment.
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Jay Desko is the President & CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.
