Margaret Thatcher was not known for backing down. She built her whole career on firm opinions and was happy to defend them to anyone who would listen. So it can come as a surprise that one of the things she claimed to enjoy most was being disagreed with. She loved a good argument, and she actually wanted the people around her to push back rather than simply nod along. To her, agreeing with the boss was not the point. Thinking, challenging and debating were. It is an unusual thing for a powerful person to say out loud, because most of us, given the choice, prefer the comfort of being told we are right. Thatcher seemed to understand that comfort and good decisions do not always go together. Behind this short, plain line sits a simple idea about how we think and how we can keep our own ideas honest.
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