When Common Sense Calls in Sick

Common sense really isn’t common. You see it every day. Teams of highly capable people overlook what a thoughtful outsider would notice in minutes. The finance expert builds the perfect forecast but never checks whether customers will buy. The engineer designs a system that works in theory but frustrates the person who must maintain it.

It’s not that people lose their street smarts. Deadlines, dashboards, and pressure bury them. Common sense doesn’t disappear, it gets drowned out.

The fix starts with a pause. Before locking in a decision, ask a grounding question: What would make this fail in real life? Naming the obvious risks early can save enormous time and cost.

Then invite reality into the room. Involve people who live with the outcome including frontline employees, a long-time customer, a new team member with fresh eyes. A short conversation with someone who actually uses the product or service can prevent months of rework.

Next, value plain speaking. When someone says, “This plan sounds great until you try it on a busy Monday morning,” don’t dismiss it. Treat it as critical data.

Finally, model it yourself. Share a moment when your own big idea almost collapsed under everyday conditions. Admitting that you’ve been there encourages others to surface the obvious before it turns into an expensive surprise.

When common sense calls in sick, projects wander and costs climb. When leaders make space for it, teams move faster, trust grows, and strategies hold up in the real world. Whatever brilliant plan you’re working on, give it one last, indispensable test: Does it hold up to common sense?