In this engaging discussion, Adam Grant, a Wharton organizational psychologist and New York Times-bestselling author, shares powerful strategies for innovative decision-making. He emphasizes the importance of cultivating a 'challenge network' for honest feedback and promotes the idea of pre-mortems to foresee potential failures. Grant also advocates for humor and humility in leadership, along with the pursuit of 'better practices' over 'best practices.' Listeners will discover valuable insights on navigating doubt, fostering curiosity, and encouraging open dialogue in organizations.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Improving Forecasts
Keep score of your predictions and assess your calibration.
List conditions that would prove your forecast wrong and adjust when those conditions arise.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Better Listening
Increase your question-to-statement ratio to become a better listener.
If your ratio is above one-to-one, you're telling more than learning.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Steve Jobs Award
Steve Jobs gave an award to the person who challenged him most courageously.
This fostered an environment where people felt safe giving honest feedback.
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In 'Think Again', Adam Grant argues that the ability to rethink at personal, interpersonal, and collective levels is crucial in today's polarized world. He uses scientific research, personal anecdotes, and engaging stories to illustrate how people can find joy in being wrong, leverage the benefits of impostor syndrome, and cultivate environments of lifelong learning. Grant emphasizes the need to challenge our convictions, adopt a scientific mindset, and foster curiosity and humility. He provides examples of individuals who have successfully rethought their approaches, from firefighters to business leaders, and offers practical exercises for improving rethinking skills[2][4][5].
Grit
The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Angela Duckworth
In this book, Angela Duckworth presents a compelling argument that success is driven more by grit, a fusion of relentless passion and perseverance, than by talent. She explains what grit is, how to identify and develop it, and how it can be grown through stages such as developing interests, consistent practice, finding a pro-social purpose, and cultivating optimism. The book is structured in three parts: explaining what grit is and why it matters, how to grow grit from the inside out, and how to grow grit from the outside in, targeting parents, coaches, teachers, and organizational leaders. Duckworth supports her arguments with personal stories, historical insights, and interviews with high achievers from various fields.
Wharton organizational psychologist and New York Times-bestselling author Adam Grant shares insights on making better business decisions, fostering innovation and how your personal "challenge network” can lead to superior products and delight your customers.
Share these insights on how to be a successful leader:
1. EncourageHumor and Humility: They help maintain a flexible and open-minded approach, making it easier to rethink and adapt.
2. Have Pre-Mortems: Discuss as many potential failures as possible before launching. That way you can prevent or know how to handle problems when they occur.
3. Eschew Best Practices for Better Practices: “Best Practices” implies there’s only one right way, while seeking “Better Practices” encourages people to innovate and try new things.
4. Build a Challenge Network: Maintain a group of trusted critics who provide truly honest feedback to improve your decision-making.
5. Reward Speaking Truth to Power: Encourage employees to ask questions, suggest improvements and challenge outdated ideas.
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