Proud to call yourself cynical? Here’s why that might be a mistake…
Last week I wrote about how I, as a cynical lawyer, once dismissed “holding space” as woo-woo fluff, only to discover it was one of the most practical leadership skills there is.
That made me think more about the fine line between scepticism and cynicism.
Scepticism is evidence-based. It’s open-minded and curious. It asks: what’s really going on here? And it’s very ready to change its view when the facts shift or new evidence comes into view.
Cynicism looks similar on the surface, but it isn’t at all the same thing. Cynicism has a negative skew regardless of the evidence. It’s quick to dismiss, slow to adapt, and usually more about protecting oneself than actually understanding reality.
I regularly hear many lawyers pride themselves on their cynicism. I was the same. It’s worn like a badge of street smarts. Perhaps it’s because lawyers are trained to look for risk, flaws, and hidden traps. That’s useful in black-letter legal work, sure, but it too easily bleeds into how we view people and possibilities, and the irony is that it isn’t street smart at all to be closed off to the evidence that you might have things wrong.
The challenge is that as you become more senior, cynicism loses any chance of being a protective edge (if it truly ever was one) and starts being a more and more significant barrier. It closes doors and alienates people. It makes you harder to influence, harder to trust, and ultimately less effective as a leader.
Real, healthy scepticism (not cloaked cynicism bearing a false label), on the other hand, sharpens your judgment. It helps you weigh risk, test assumptions, and navigate complexity without being blinkered by either blind optimism or reflexive negativity.
So the next time you catch yourself epically eye-rolling, pause. Ask yourself: is this healthy scepticism at play, or just plain cynicism?
Until next week,
Madeleine
PS If you’d like me to work with you as you cultivate healthy curiosity in your leadership, let me know and please share with anyone you think may benefit.
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