You have to listen to the people who have a negative opinion as

Hear the thoughtful counsel of Carlos Ghosn: “You have to listen to the people who have a negative opinion as well as those who have a positive opinion. Just to make sure that you are blending all these opinions in your mind before a decision is made.” These words carry the wisdom of leadership, forged in the crucible of responsibility. For in the making of choices—whether for a household, a city, or a nation—one cannot live only in the echo of praise nor drown entirely in the sting of criticism. True strength lies in hearing all voices and weaving them into a tapestry of discernment.

To listen is the first act of humility. Many who rise in power close their ears to those who oppose them, surrounding themselves only with flatterers who echo their desires. Yet the wise know that the voice of warning is as valuable as the voice of encouragement. The negative opinion may reveal hidden dangers, unseen weaknesses, or truths that pride would rather ignore. Just as a sailor needs both the stars to guide him and the rocks to avoid, so too must a leader heed both praise and caution.

The positive opinion, however, has its own power. It encourages, affirms, and brings light to what is already strong. Without it, the spirit may falter, seeing only flaws and forgetting potential. Thus, both negative and positive words are needed, like the inhale and exhale of breath. One without the other brings imbalance. It is in their blending that wisdom emerges—a perspective broad enough to see both shadow and light, risk and reward, failure and promise.

The ancients taught this balance. In the councils of Athens, orators debated fiercely, presenting both sides before the people chose their course. In the Roman Senate, it was said that “no decision is wise until every voice has been heard.” Even in the traditions of the East, the sage listened not only to the words of his friends but also to the murmurs of his critics, believing that truth often hides in opposing points of view. Ghosn’s teaching is no new invention but a continuation of this age-old principle of leadership.

History bears testimony. Abraham Lincoln, in leading his nation through civil war, built a “team of rivals”—a cabinet filled with men who often disagreed with him. Why? Because he knew that only by hearing negative opinions alongside positive ones could he see the whole horizon. This openness did not weaken him; it strengthened his decisions, enabling him to preserve a nation when division threatened to destroy it. His legacy endures as proof of the power of listening to both sides.

The lesson for us is clear: in our lives, whether we lead armies or households, companies or our own hearts, we must resist the temptation to hear only what pleases us. The critic and the supporter both hold pieces of the truth. To reject one is to blind ourselves; to embrace both is to see the world as it is. In that blending of opinions, discernment is born, and from discernment comes wise action.

Practical steps flow from this wisdom. When faced with a choice, seek counsel not only from those who agree with you but from those who differ. Write down the negative and positive insights you receive, and weigh them with honesty. Ask yourself not which voice flatters you most, but which reveals the deeper truth. Train yourself to listen without defensiveness, for even harsh words may carry wisdom if stripped of pride. In this way, your decisions will not be hasty reactions but considered judgments, tempered like steel in the forge of many fires.

So remember Carlos Ghosn’s words: “Listen to the negative opinion and the positive opinion, and blend them before a decision is made.” Let them be a guide to your life. For the one who listens only to praise will stumble blind, and the one who listens only to criticism will lose heart. But the one who blends both will walk in balance, making choices that endure, choices that uplift, choices that lead not only themselves but others toward wisdom and strength.