LegendaryLife Blog

Time is absolute, so should a statement if you are using Absolute Certainty

There is nothing that impresses followers as much as a leader who is able to be absolutely certain about something, even if it’s completely wrong!

What is Absolute Certainty?

I first realized the power of Absolute Certainty when I was watching a Star Treck TNG episode when Crusher and Picard are stuck on a planet in which they somehow got the ability to read each others minds. They both emerge from a cave and she (I am paraphrasing) asks “which way to X place” and Picard responds in a strong and forceful voice “this Way” to which she says “you have absolutely no idea do you”. Well, absolute certainty is just that, the power to have people who cannot read your mind to trust in your judgment 100% without any doubt that you are anything but sure as to the reasons behind your decision.

Why is Absolute Certainty so Powerful?

Most people will eventually follow somebody in their life, whether a mentor or a spouse, into situations that they normally wouldn’t put themselves into. This onto itself is getting out of one’s comfort zone, but what actually happens when you essentially put all your trust into another individual? Two things. First, you develop an intense bond in which the further you go out of your comfort zone, the more you depend on the person leading you to eventually get you back INTO your comfort zone. Second, and most important, you may begin second-guessing the entire situation and this is where absolute certainty must play a key role. If you are lost and your significant other says “don’t worry, I know where it is”, that lasts a little bit of time but after, say a few minutes, second guessing comes into play. Well, if you use the power of absolute certainty, this second guessing aspect simply goes away completely.

The problem with absolute certainty

If you use the power of absolute certainty in both voice and intent too often, you may be seen as an incredible leader but others will be gaming for you to make an absolute fool of yourself because they cannot accept somebody in their lives who is different. People like others who are like them, absolute certainty kinda ruins the party because it elevates an individual above the crowd mentality of keeping a level playing field of status-quo. You see this all the time in the media, a great leader who, the instant they make one bad decision, no matter how many good ones they have made in the past, become the focus of redicule and the butt of jokes. If you are prepared for the negative aspects of leadership using the principle of absolute certainty, expect that the more “right” you are, the more “wrong” others will try to find in you.

Requirements  for a powerful and absolute statement

1) you must speak clearly and precisely, each word must have meaning as if you spent hours deciding exactly which words to use in your statement.

2) you must speak with absolute confidence, if you aren’t sure, no matter what is being said, the doubt will come-out.

3) you must be in a position where others are seeking absolute certainty, if there is a fire, people are looking for a fireman, not a mathematics professor to put it out.

4) use a strong, slow, monotone voice with lots of bass, speaking in a fast and high-pitch voice does very little towards creating confidence in the statement you are saying.

The Bottom Line

Absolute Certainty requires a clear and open mind.