"Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure" by Maggie Jackson
Jan 5, 2024
15:13
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Author and expert Maggie Jackson discusses the power of uncertainty and its impact on learning and personal growth. She explores how uncertainty can foster adaptive expertise, innovation, and collaboration. She also delves into the potential of uncertainty in AI and its role in reshaping the field, emphasizing the need to embrace uncertainty for greater understanding and inclusivity.
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Quick takeaways
Embracing uncertainty can lead to positive changes in the brain and fuel human achievement.
Cultivating disagreement and uncertainty in teams drives innovation and enhances performance.
Deep dives
Embracing Uncertainty for Personal Growth and Achievement
Uncertainty may initially unsettle us, but it has its benefits. When we confront something new or unexpected, the brain undergoes positive changes, expanding working memory and focus. Nobel Prize-winning scientist Katelyn Carinco's patience and openness to uncertainty led to breakthroughs in mRNA research for COVID vaccines. Martin Luther King Jr.'s uncertainty before his iconic speech enabled him to deliver one of the greatest speeches in history. Uncertainty fuels human achievement and should be embraced to enhance personal growth and success.
The Power of Disagreement and Uncertainty in Collaborative Teams
Teams that cultivate disagreement and uncertainty are more creative, inclusive, and effective. The NASA team that made groundbreaking discoveries on Mars was successful because they encouraged diversity of knowledge and embraced mild discord. Conflict jolts groups onto uncommon ground, sparking critical questioning and rethinking. The introduction of uncertainty in discussions leads to better collaboration, regardless of whether the dissenting voice is ultimately right or wrong. Embracing uncertainty and fostering disagreement can drive innovation and enhance team performance.
Harnessing Uncertainty for Personal Well-being and Societal Progress
Uncertainty is not something to fear but rather a source of wonder, curiosity, and growth. Embracing uncertainty through exercises like answering phone calls without caller ID or exploring unsureness leads to reduced anxiety, depression, and increased resilience. Fear of the unknown is a vulnerability that can be addressed by developing a mindset that leverages uncertainty. The potential dangers of AI systems that are single-minded and lacking in uncertainty are being addressed by designing AI with the ability to admit uncertainty and be more honest, teachable, inclusive, and safe. By embracing uncertainty, both individually and collectively, we can transform ourselves and work towards a future where uncertainty saves humanity.