Weekly Quote: John Kenneth Galbraith on Changing Minds

This week’s quote comes to us from John Kenneth Galbraith. Galbraith was a professor of economics at Harvard University, United States Ambassador to India under John F. Kennedy from 1961 to 1963, and an advisor to President Johnson. He was also a prolific author of dozens of books, including several memoirs and highly regarded books about history, the economy, and society.

It’s easier and more comfortable to reinforce your current beliefs than question them. So you probably seek out information that helps support and reinforce the things you believe. Most people do this occasionally, and it takes effort to overcome.

Despite the challenges associated with rethinking, the next time you have an opportunity to do it after collecting new information, you should. It may feel difficult in the short term, but it’s worth it because you stand to gain a new and potentially more valuable perspective that can help you grow as a person.

I recommend reading Think Again by Adam Grant if you want to learn more about this idea. Adam does a lot of research on how useful it is to think like a scientist and not a prosecutor or a preacher when searching for the truth. As is usual with his books, the narrative is compelling and the argument is sound. The audiobook, narrated wonderfully by the author, also an experienced podcaster with a talent for telling stories, is worth listening to as well.

Weekly Quote: Adam Grant on Being Actively Open-Minded

This week, I’m sharing another quote from Think Again by Adam Grant. It’s a book that has stuck with me since I read it last year, and I regularly go back through and reread sections and review the highlights I have captured in Readwise.

I like how Grant uses roles that we are all familiar with to help us best approach effective learning and communication methods. Early in the book, he writes about Phil Tetlock , a fellow Wharton Professor, who discovered that people frequently fall into the role of either politician, preacher, or prosecutor when discussing or thinking about something. Adam takes this concept and expands on it by writing that the ideal role is that of a scientist in search of the truth.

I think looking at this through a lens of humility is helpful. I may have ideas or thoughts about a given topic, and I want to test them and see how they stand up. This helps everyone, including me, get closer to the facts. This can also feel very vulnerable, so it is essential to realize that it’s okay to be wrong. Also, if you see someone approaching a question or idea as a scientist, support them in the process.

Being actively open-minded takes exercise, like so much of what is good for us, and I’m continuing to work on it. How often are you searching for reasons why you are wrong?

Weekly Quote: Rethinking is a Skill

Another quote this week from Think Again by Adam Grant.  I like the idea that rethinking, a critical part of leadership growth in my experience, is both a mindset and a skill set.

I’ve found that one of the most important skills for rethinking is active listening.  It’s important to hear those who present a different perspective and process what they’re saying instead of just waiting for the chance to respond.  I know this skill can be challenging to maintain, especially in high-stress situations, but it’s worth trying.

Time for reflection is also helpful.  It gives room to consider further the new information you have and decide what other data you may need to make the best decision.  Because rethinking is a form of decision-making, the entire process can help us learn and grow, so let’s embrace that. 

As Adam says, these skills get rusty.  What are you doing to get them out of the shed?

Weekly Quote: Be a Propeller

A sort of flow state comes along when what Adam Grant references in this week’s quote occurs. When I’ve experienced an argument like this, there is a sense of mutual respect, a desire to grow an idea through disagreement, and even excitement as the interested parties discuss concepts and find a path to come closer together on a resolution.

In situations like this, our ideas are collectively improved because of the outcome. Even if the argument doesn’t begin in this spirit, we are empowered to help find its way to something that can take flight.

If you haven’t read Think Again yet, you should. It’s one of my favorite books from 2021, and I’ll be writing more about my takeaways in the coming months.

Remember that it’s never too late to be the propeller.