valuable is that most of us don’t find numbers and algorithms alone very persuasive. We’re much more swayed by a good story or compelling anecdote then we are by a table full of statistically significant results. This is another of our cognitive biases, obviously, but one that none of us can afford to ignore. So, smart companies invest heavily in the gentle art of persuasion, not only of their customers but also of their own people. This is why, as Deming found, analytical ability is even more valuable when it’s paired with high social skills; this combination is what helps good ideas spread
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