A Patron Saint Who Turned Out to Be A Bad Idea

There’s an old story about a famous soldier who single handedly saved the city of Sienna from certain destruction at the hands of an enemy. The good citizens decided to reward him, but what amount of riches or honor would be worthy of such a brave savior? After much debate, the townspeople decided: they would kill him and then worship him as their patron saint. 

We all understand that there can be unintended consequences to almost every action or decision. We also understand that bad ideas can gather steam and move from unthinkable to possible to inevitable. So how can we stop the bad ideas from growing or be able to see negative unintended consequences? 

A key skill in today's Age of the Heart is understanding different viewpoints. This can be tough and requires patience. You should also try to predict how others might react, especially in America where we don’t “react” as much as “OVERreact.” Another important skill is empathy; when you can feel what others are experiencing, it becomes easier to see potential outcomes and their effects. Lastly, “soft skills” are important as they promote a more balanced approach, preventing bad ideas from gaining support.

All in all, the best course of action to prevent unintended consequences and stop bad ideas from happening is to have the will to look at things differently. Use thinking time, consider things from another’s point of view, and use emotional intelligence to empathize what others are feeling.