HR, Leadership & Training

Science says positive people are a lot more intelligent and insightful than you might think. Cynics aren’t smarter or more competent. They just seem like they are, says research. By Jeff Haden

I once sat in a meeting where the CEO shredded every idea his team presented.

I thought that was odd. He had never actually justified any of his positions. No facts. No data. No logic. Just platitudes.

Like, ‘too many potential downsides’. And, ‘too risky’. And, ‘too complicated for the level of expected return’.

He said what he thought about their ideas, but he never explained why. I couldn’t understand why they thought he was so quick. So insightful.

So smart Turns out that assumption isn’t uncommon. According to a study published in 2019 in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, most people assume that cynical people - those who tend to be doubtful that something is worthwhile or will happen - are smarter.

That they are ‘cognitively superior’.

In fact, the more cynical you are, the less competent you’re likely to be.

According to the researchers:

Our results revealed that laypeople tend to endorse the ‘cynical genius’ belief – that is, believed that cynical individuals would do better on a variety of cognitive tasks and cognitive ability tests than their less cynical counterparts.

An examination of empirical associations between cynicism and competence based on the data of about 200,000 individuals from 30 countries debunked the ‘cynical genius’ belief as illusionary.

Cynical individuals are likely to do worse (rather than better) on cognitive tasks, cognitive abilities and competencies tests, and tend to be less educated than less cynical individuals.

Why? Taking a cynical position is easy. It’s a lot simpler, and a lot less risky, to say why something won’t work.

Weight Plus, statements like: ‘That’s too risky’ appear to carry the weight of experience.

Saying something new might be worth trying? That sounds more like a guess.

And then there’s this: Brain scans show we pay more attention to and give much greater weight to negative experiences.

Negative events are quickly stored in our long-term memory, but we need to actively think about positive events for 12 seconds or more in order for them to be transferred to long-term memory.

Easy to be cynical In short, it’s easy to be cynical – to latch on to the negatives instead of considering potential positives – not only because it’s safer, but also because we’re built that way.

All of which is a problem.

Take deciding whether to invest in new businesses or initiatives; research shows that people are more swayed by negative views than positive ones.

Lowered While evaluators lowered their scores by more points after seeing scores more critical than their own, they didn’t raise them after seeing more favourable scores.

Negative clearly seemed smarter than positive, which led to protecting against failure.

Instead of seeking to maximize success.

The next time someone immediately shoots down an idea, don’t assume they’re smart.

More important, the next time an idea sounds interesting to you, don’t immediately assume you’re wrong. Or less intelligent.

Revising As Jeff Bezos says: ‘The smartest people are constantly revising their understanding, reconsidering a problem they thought they’d already solved.

And, just as important, are smart enough to realize that never trying something new means never achieving anything new.

Jeff Haden, contributing editor, inc.@ jeff_haden

Julien Latrille, Director Western Europe Bostik C&C; Robert Massey, MD Ireland & UK; Morgan Malecotte, Director Global Steering Unit Wall & Floor; Peter Morrissey, Commercial Director, Ireland; Sjef Christiaansen, Director, Global Consumer C&C.

Bostik Academy is a new online and physical knowledge centre, which has been carefully created, for professionals, in the Irish construction industry.

At Bostik Academy, participants will experience ‘a tailored training programme, that is perfectly matched to their needs and profession’.

Peter Morrissey commercial director, Ireland said: ‘We are delighted to launch the Bostik Academy.

‘The Bostik Academy will enable us to work closely with the industry professionals, as a key resource, for training, technical questions and to support our partners in their everyday challenges.

Bostik Academy offers product information on the complete Bostik product portfolio – from flooring and tiling products to their complete sealing and bonding range. Information includes access to product presentations, installation videos, ‘How To’ videos, Technical Data Sheets and all relevant supporting information.

Bostik Academy presents a ‘state of the art’ Video Technical Centre with remote video training capability and targeted webcast broadcasts, as well as traditional hands on ‘on site’ training and practical demonstrations.

In addition, Bostik Academy offers tailored dedicated training programmes to you and your team.

Highly innovative Bostik have developed new and highly innovative products, which will be detailed and demonstrated at the Bostik Academy.

The experienced trainers will present their full product portfolio, best application methods, key industry recommendations as well as current market insights and updates.

Their highly skilled Technical Team is available to support you in your everyday activities.

Key resource Bostik are available to contact, as a key resource, to answer your technical questions and to support your everyday challenges.

‘We look forward to welcoming you to the Bostik Academy,’ readers are told.

Frank Gleeson, Ibec President Ibec announced the appointment of Frank Gleeson, president and CEO of Aramark Northern Europe, as its new president for 2021 to 2022.

He succeeded Alastair Blair, country managing director for Accenture in Ireland.

Success

The annual handover of the presidency was formalised at Ibec’s National Council, the group’s first in-person event for over eighteen months.

Marking the announcement, Mr. Gleeson said: ‘It is with great pride that I take on the role of Ibec president for the next twelve months.

‘During this time, I look forward to bringing my passion for hospitality and consumer experience to support Ibec’s ongoing engagement with Government and leading stakeholders.

Privilege

Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said: ‘It is a real privilege to have someone with such impressive credentials in the position of Ibec president.

Frank Gleeson is President and CEO of Aramark Northern Europe. Aramark is one of the largest integrated providers of food services, facilities management, retail operations, and property services in the region.

In his current role, Frank serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Council of Aramark Corporation.

He is responsible for operations that span Ireland, the UK, and a Global Offshore business in the North Sea, Middle East, and Mexican Gulf – encompassing a workforce in excess of 15,000 people at any one time.

Frank joined Aramark in 2013 from Topaz Energy Group where he was retail director.

Leadership

Prior to that, he served in senior leadership positions for Statoil, O’Brien’s Off-Licenses and began his retail operations career in Xtra-Vision Ireland.

Since starting out as a teenager in family restaurant and cafés, Frank always placed a significant focus on the hospitality and customer-service side of business.

He truly believes in the power of terrific customer experience, as well as the importance of on-the-job learning and development.

Frank has been a board member of Ibec since 2016.

Chairman

He is a former chairman of Retail Ireland; a former board member of the National Transport Authority and was elected chairman of NACS, the international trade association of convenience stores.

Irish SME Association (ISME) announced the election of Margaret O’Rourke Doherty as the new chair of the national council for the 2021-2023 term.

Margaret is the CEO of the Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation (HABIC) and is the seventeenth chair of ISME and the second female chair.

Notably, the new Council elected is the first with a female majority since ISME’s foundation in 1993 and is comprised of 56% female and 44% male members.

Delighted

Margaret O’Rourke-Doherty said: ‘I am delighted and proud to be elected as ISME Chair for the 2021-2023 term, having served as vice-chair for the past two years.

‘Today also marks a significant day for ISME, as for the first time ever, the national council has a female majority, with fifteen women on the council out of twenty-seven members.

‘Female entrepreneurs and business owners are not often given due credit for the high number of businesses they run in the SME sector.

Of the twenty-seven new members of the National Council, five members have joined from industry associations representing a variety of areas including, of course, retail.

Welcome

O’Rourke-Doherty added: ‘I am also pleased to welcome onto the National Council the heads of other trade groups in the childcare, retail, and artisan food and distillery sectors.

‘Together, building on the achievements of our previous National Councils, we will cement ISME as the independent voice of small enterprise in the Irish economy.”

‘With over 10,500 members nationwide, ISME’s new Council members are elected owner/managers of SMEs from all over Ireland and from a variety of sectors.

Renewable Heating Systems have become an important area for the building services industry.

Understanding how to provide these sources, systems and applications is seen as key in meeting the future needs of both commercial and domestic heating.

Expertise is vital to renewables success and so Pipelife are delighted to offer a range of courses that have been specifically designed to provide experienced heating, plumbing, installation and building professionals with a real understanding of the potential for renewable energy sources, installation and their application.

As we reported last year: ‘The courses are free to attend and will be led by members of our Technical Team who have a wealth of practical knowledge and installation practices, and feature a detailed tour of the Pipelife manufacturing facility where visitors are given the opportunity to see first-hand where our products are designed and manufactured.

‘The free courses will be available to installers, service engineers, plumbers, merchants, architects, local authorities and BER Assessors.

Padjoe Barry – national sales manager, further comments: ‘These are really exciting times for Pipelife, we have always had a strong focus on providing a great service to all our customers and with the launch of our new Renewable Training Centres this will allow us to support them with hands-on product training and installation techniques.

‘Two major things that we offer – that are not standard in the industry – are a 50-year guarantee on all our manufactured pipe products and extended warranties on all our traded products,’ says Padjoe.

‘We give full design indemnity insurance on all our designs for underfloor heating and heat pump systems.

‘We also provide full electrical drawings and full layout drawings for the piping and manifold locations and settings.

‘When you get a job from us, everything is specified, and the contractor can talk to the actual designer.

‘If any problem occurs after the homeowner takes possession of the house, we are still available.

‘We’ve been around for 50 years, and we are willing to stand over the quality of our pipes to give a further 50-year assurance.

‘We stand over the quality of our traded products because we only take in heat pumps and fittings from people we have vetted ourselves.’ Pipelife Ireland are certainly planning for the future and looking forward to even better days ahead!

Paul Kenny, general manager Flogas Energy with Liam Faulkner, chief executive officer Flogas Enterprise Naturgy Ireland is now part of Flogas Ireland. The business will be known as Flogas Enterprise and new branding will be rolled out as part of this change, we reportrd in early 2022.

‘This is an exciting time for Flogas and it means that we can bring market leading expertise in the renewable electricity, natural gas, biogas and energy services to all our customers across the island of Ireland,’ readers were told.

Major development ‘It represents a major market development which will combine our activity in residential and SME business with an innovative and client focussed approach to the large energy and gas markets.’

Paul Kenny, general manager, Flogas Energy said: ‘The acquisition of Naturgy Ireland is complementary to our existing business.

‘With the strong pipeline of energy services and renewables that it brings to the table, the agreement will allow Flogas Enterprise support the further development of our portfolio of sustainable and renewable offerings for the large energy supply sector.

Exciting Welcoming the announcement, Liam Faulkner, of Naturgy Ireland, said: ‘This deal marks a very exciting time for us as we continue to develop products and services to support our customers with their energy sustainability goals.

‘Flogas Enterprise will be well positioned to develop new offerings and enhance the services that our customers value so highly.