People think that cynicism is a sign of intelligence. It’s not.
We often think of cynics as realists, those who see the world for what it truly is. They don’t.
85% of people think a cynic will be a better lie detector than a non-cynic. They’re wrong.
So most people have faith in people who don’t have faith in people.
In the appraisal industry, a cynical mindset may be more damaging than we think.
Is cynicism really helping?
Cynicism narrows an appraiser’s sense of possibility. Viewing situations through a lens of doubt reduces the chances they’ll take calculated risks.
Doubt: The Compounding Effect
Doubt will stop participation in the Appraisal Institute.
Doubt will show up as poor office culture and frustrated employees.
Doubt will prevent Chief Appraisers from adopting YouConnect.
Doubt will result in not becoming a supervisory appraiser.
Doubt will show up by lack of investment in your appraisal department or firm.
Doubt will prevent commercial appraisers from investing in DataComp Suite.
Doubt will show up in declining appraisal quality.
Doubt will appear in your Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS).
Doubt will stop senior bank execs from implementing Glances for bank-wide integrations.
Doubt will appear by lack of strategic vision by Chief Appraisers and firm owners.
5 Reasons For Optimism
An optimistic mindset is vital for appraisers as it enhances their ability to:
- Embrace technology and process.
- See change not as a threat but as an opportunity for innovation and growth.
- Problem solve on a 3-dimension plane (not stuck on what’s worked in the past).
- Free-up head space to think more strategically.
- Position valuation professionals for long-term success.
Cynicism Stifles Innovation
Cynics kick the can of complacency, deferring decisions until retirement. In effect, a leadership delay tactic.
This resistance to change doesn’t just keep appraisers from becoming more efficient; it actively costs them business.
While their peers explore and adopt new tools, cynics become trapped in inefficiencies.
Trust Erodes Along with Optimism
In a field built on trust and long-term relationships, a cynical appraiser comes across as disengaged-or worse, adversarial.
Clients sense when their appraiser is more focused on protecting themselves than delivering insights.
This erosion of trust can lead to lost business and reputational damage, especially in a competitive marketplace.
Embrace Curiosity-Challenge Assumptions
The fight against cynicism isn’t about ignoring the realities of the profession. It’s about maintaining curiosity and openness, even in difficult times.
The most successful appraisers balance realism with a mindset of possibility. The choice is simple: embrace curiosity or risk becoming obsolete.
Cynic appraisers lose-not because they lack skill, but because they’ve stopped imagining what the future could be.
“Cynics perform less well on analytic and cognitive tests.” Jamil Zaki
“One of the first steps to becoming a hopeful skeptic is to challenge your own assumptions.” Shankar Vedantam
Hope is not the same as optimism.
Hope is more about emotional endurance and possibility.
Optimism is an expectation of positive outcomes based on rational thought or experience.
Challenge our assumptions.
Embrace curiosity.
Lean into an optimist mindset.
