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Think Again, by Adam Grant
"When people reflect on what it takes to be mentally fit, the first idea that comes to mind is usually intelligence. The smarter you are, the more complex problems you can solve — and the faster you can solve them. Intelligence is traditionally viewed as the ability to think and learn. Yet is a turbulent world there's another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn."
Takeaways and things to try
We need to develop the habit of forming our own second opinions. If you lack the motivation to change your mind, you’ll miss many occasions to think again. Think like a scientist…when a scientist is actually in scientist mode. Thinking like a scientist involves more than just reacting with an open mind. It means being actively open-minded. It requires searching for reasons why we might be wrong—not for reasons why we must be right — and revising our views based on what we learn. Grant introduces us to the power of 'task conflict', encouraging us to welcome dissenting views, and invite challenging opinions to ensure we're open to different perspectives at the point of decision. How might you do this?
The less intelligent we are in a particular domain, the more we seem to overestimate our actual intelligence in that domain. In a group of american football fans, the one who knows the least is the most likely to be the armchair quarterback, prosecuting the coach for calling the wrong play and preaching about a better playbook.
Absolute beginners rarely fall into the 'Dunning-Kruger' trap. If you don’t know a thing about football, you probably don’t walk around believing you know more than the coach.
It’s when we progress from novice to amateur that we become overconfident. A bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. In too many domains of our lives, we never gain enough expertise to question our opinions or discover what we don’t know.
Personal growth is driven by constantly reappraising our thoughts and beliefs, and keeping humble when it comes to what we think we know. Growth begins with intellectual humility — knowing what we don’t know. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is wisdom.
The best negotiators find common ground with their 'opponents'. They recognise that not every argument needs to be won, and that intentional concession will be key to changing someone's mind. Debate can be approached like a dance, with both partners allowing space for the other person to 'step forward'. And effective negotiators embrace scientific questions too, showing enquiry and forensic curiosity. Grant shows us that the best negotiators end most of their arguments with a question.
Sources: Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know, by Adam Grant (2021). Politics and Prose. 15 minute business books, Better Cognitions. The Decision Lab.