“Affirming a Consequent”
Backward Thinking
What is Affirming a Consequent?
If a premise implies a result, do not assume that the result also implies the premise.
Business Application
In order to consistently develop effective business practices, you must learn to identify true causes to be able to incorporate them.
Perform a “post mortem” assessment on your projects. Examine and isolate the relevant factors that contributed to a successful implementation.
Example 1
If we work together, we will break last month’s records. We broke last month’s records so we must have worked together!
Why This is a Fallacy
Just because you broke last month’s record, you didn’t necessarily work together.
Example 2
If I use this closing technique, I will win the business. I won the business, so that closing technique really worked!
Why This is a Fallacy
Just because you won the business, the closing technique may not have helped.
