I reread a book this week by Adam Grant. Grant, who teaches at The University of Pennsylvania.
Technically, I didn’t reread the book. I listened to it.
Using an app called Libby from my public library, I could listen to Grant read his marvelous book.
Did you know you can listen to books for free with this app with libraries all over the country? In fact, over the last six weeks, I have listened to eight books, saving my eyes from more reading. Check out your favorite app store to find Libby.
Think Again – Changing Your Mind
Why has it become a stigma to change your mind or rethink your approach to a complex problem? I remember sitting in a class at Penn many moons ago listening to Professor Ray Birdwhistle promoting the importance of challenging society’s group thinking – especially when you start to buy in and believe what others are telling you without question.
Grant’s insights and uncanny genius are that he always creates little scientific tests to see if what he believes is true or succumbed to groupthink. This mindset is valuable when working on business and marketing strategy because it forces you to not see like your industry or category – but to come at problems with a critical eye.
“Intelligence is traditionally viewed as the ability to think and learn. Yet in a turbulent world, another set of cognitive skills might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn.”
Grant talks about our inner preacher, prosecutor, and politician interfering with our ability to think again.
“The risk is that we become so wrapped up in preaching that we’re right, prosecuting others who are wrong, and politicking for the support that we don’t bother to rethink our views.”
Grant urges you to find your inner scientist – the one that is always curious, somewhat confident, and persistently skeptical.
“…define your identity in terms of values, not opinions”, and actively “seek out information that goes against your views.”
In the book, you’ll meet Daryl Davis, the Black musician with the hobby of converting KKK members into friends. There’s the vaccine whisperer who gets legions of anti-vax parents vaccinating their kids, and Erin McCarthy, who has her students re-write old history textbooks. All these individuals rethink their core beliefs to shift toward a new approach to problems.
The Challenge Network
Another brilliant idea in this book is assembling a challenge network.
Instead of yes, men and women, imagine gathering a group of skeptics who are there to help you think counterintuitively.
I love the idea of a board of strategic challengers to grill you and your team. A challenge network, whether formal or informal, can assist you with your career, your business, and – in life.
“It takes humility to reconsider our past commitments, doubts to question our present decisions, and curiosity to reimagine our plans. What we discover along the way can free us from the shackles of our familiar surroundings and our former selves. Rethinking liberates us to do more than update our knowledge and opinions—it’s a tool for leading a more fulfilling life.”
To hear an excellent discussion of Think Again with Adam Grant and Malcolm Gladwell discussing the book, check out this conversation on Adam’s podcast. I love the framework of questioning everything.
Take Adam’s Think Again quiz here if you are curious about your proclivity to rethinking challenging problems.
Adam’s book Think Again is a must-read whether you are focused on business or personal issues. His writing style is engaging, thoughtful, and charming.
What issues are you rethinking at work?
Photo credit: Toby Sinclair
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