“Denying the Antecedent”
Assuming the Circumstance
What is Denying the Antecedent?
If a premise implies a result but the premise does not happen, do not assume the result cannot still happen.
Business Application
Ignoring other potential causes of an effect will keep you from exploring the bigger picture. By examining multiple techniques and other influential factors, you can prioritize to your efforts and work more efficiently.
Example 1
If I increase my cold calls, I will close more deals. I did not increase my colds calls, so I will not close more deals.
Why This is a Fallacy
Increasing cold calls will very likely help you close more deals. But, you can close more deals without increasing your cold calls by soliciting client referrals, marketing, or working with affiliates.
Example 2
If I spend more time on my company, it will grow faster. I did not spend more time on my company, so it cannot grow faster.
Why This is a Fallacy
Spending more time on any project will likely improve its quality. But, there are other means to grow a business using strategy and efficiency that do not require more time spent.
