by Adam Grant
Hemingway, Ernest, 87, 239
Holocaust deniers, 189–90
Holocaust survivors, 130, 132, 189–90
hostility, responses to, 113–16
hot dog sandwich survey, 125, 125
humility, 27, 45–48, 52–54, 106, 112, 117, 119, 137, 147, 157–58, 165, 200, 214–15, 221, 234, 243, 249–50, 256
competence and, 215n
as groundedness, 46–48
intellectual, see intellectual humility
self-doubt vs., 46
see also confident humility
hypotheses, testing of, 20, 21, 23
Ibarra, Herminia, 235
IBM, Project Debater of, 97–102, 107–10
Iceland, 2008 financial crisis in, 35–36
idea cults, 176–77
identity, see self, sense of
identity foreclosure, 230, 232–33, 234, 242
ideology, see beliefs
ignorance, confidence and, 33, 40–41, 42–46, 43, 44
Ig™ Nobel Prize, 38
impostor syndrome, 36, 37–38, 49–51
armchair quarterback syndrome vs., 51
gender and, 51n
in high achievers, 50
possible benefits of, 50–54
Inconvenient Truth, An (film), 167
Incredibles, The (film), 83, 84, 87–88
influencing, defense mechanisms against, 154–55, 154
influencing, listening and, 155–60
information, see knowledge
instincts, 8, 9
integrity, passion as sign of, 179
intellectual humility, 27–28, 31, 45–48, 52–54, 62, 102, 106, 112, 117, 119, 137, 147, 157–58, 165, 187, 200, 203, 214–15, 221, 249–50, 253
arrogance vs., 45
International Space Station, 205–7
internet:
misinformation on, 164
simplification and, 171
interpersonal rethinking, 10–11, 95–160, 253–55
interviewing, motivational, see motivational interviewing
iPhone, 23
Jobs’s resistance to, 29–31
iPod, 30
IQ scores:
emotional intelligence and, 175
mental flexibility vs., 24–27
stereotyping and, 24–25
Israel-Palestine conflict, 131
stereotyping in, 130
Jeff (biotech CEO), 151–53, 155
Jehn, Karen “Etty,” 78
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV show), 214
Jobs, Steve, iPhone resisted by, 29–31
Johnson Space Center, 221
joy of being wrong, 61–62, 65–66, 69, 70, 71–72, 89, 252
judging, of self vs. work, 201
Kaczynski, Ted, 60, 74–75
Kahneman, Daniel:
and joy of being wrong, 61–62
scientist mindset of, 62
Kelemen, Deborah, 188–89
Kelly, George, 127
Kelman, Herb, 130, 131
Kendi, Ibram X., 182
kids:
encouraging rethinking by, 256; see also teachers, teaching
unlearning and, 189–90, 256
“what do you want to be” question and, 225–26, 230, 231, 232
knowledge:
exponential expansion of, 17
oral transmission of, 247
overconfidence and, 92–93
of what we don’t know, see intellectual humility
Knowlton, Karren, 130–31
Kolbert, Elizabeth, 60
Kony, Joseph, 157
Bigombe’s meetings with, 155–56
Kreider, Tim, 97
Kruger, Justin, 38, 158
Krumrei Mancuso, Elizabeth, 52
Ku Klux Klan, 121–22, 139–41, 151
Kundro, Tim, 126, 129–30, 131, 133
Lazaridis, Mike, 31
in failure to rethink marketplace, 23–24
as science prodigy, 15–16, 23
as smartphone pioneer, 16, 23
as victim of overconfidence cycle, 29
leaders, rethinking by, 248–50
learning:
capacity for, confidence in, 48, 252
challenge networks in, 200
confusion in, 199, 255, 256
inquiry-based, see active learning
scientist mindset in, 186
textbooks and, 185–87
see also lifelong learning
learning cultures:
“how do you know” questions in, 211–12
in organizations, 205–22, 256–57
performance cultures vs., 209
psychological safety in, 209, 212–13, 214–15, 256
rethinking in, 207–8
rethinking scorecards in, 218–19, 218, 257
lectures, active learning vs., 190–93, 196
Lewis, Jerry Lee, 121
lifelong learning, 11, 54, 251, 253
charged conversations in, 163–83
focus on results as obstacle to, 217
teachers and, 185–203
at workplace, 205–22
life plans, 225–43
identity foreclosure and, 232–33
periodic checkups on, 235–37, 257
rethinking, 233, 235–37, 257
tunnel vision and, 228–29
see also career choices
listening, 143–59
as expression of respect and care, 159–60
influencing and, 155–60
in motivational interviewing, 153
persuasive, 253
reflective, 147
listening circles, 157–58
logic, faulty, prosecutor mindset, 102, 104
Lord’s Resistance Army, 155, 156n, 157
Lyne, Andrew, 73
McCann, Lauren, 196–97
McCarthy, Erin, 185–87, 189–90, 203
Maclean, Norman, 5
Madoff, Bernie, 18, 19
managers:
feedback and, 213–14
self-rating of, 39–40, 39
Mann Gulch wildfire, 1–2, 5–7
outmoded assumptions as factor in, 11–12
mastery, 198
Matrix, The (film), 194
meaning, pursuit of, happiness vs., 238, 240–41
Mean Reviews videos, 214–15
“Mean Tweets,” 214
measles, 148
mortality rate of, 144
resurgence of, 143–44
media:
climate change and, 170–73
complexification and, 171–73
medical errors, psychological safety and, 208–9
mental flexibility, 2–3, 8, 9–10, 251
IQ scores vs., 24–27
rethinking and, see rethinking
scientist mindset and, 27
Mercz, Ursula, 33–34
Michigan, University of, 132
Mill, John Stuart, 241
Miller, Bill, 146, 152, 153, 154, 156
misfits, see disagreeable people; pirates
Mitchell, Edgar, 128
Morrell, Kjirste, forecasting skill of, 68–69
motivation:
ineffective approaches in, 150
pay and, 114
motivational interviewing, 146–51
in business, 151–53
confident humility in, 147
curiosity in, 147, 157
in everyday life, 149–51
freedom of choice in, 148, 255
listening in, 153
open-ended questions in, 147, 148, 156
summarizing in, 153
sustain talk vs. change talk in, 152–53
as tool for changing behavior, 148
Mount Stupid, 43, 44, 45, 252
Moyers, Theresa, 152
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 114–15
Murphy, Kate, 156
Murray, Henry:
beliefs experiment of, 55–57, 60, 74–75
spy assessment test of, 56
NASA:
emerging learning culture at, 221
lack of psychological safety at, 210–11
overconfidence cycles at, 208
and Parmitano’s spacesuit malfunction, 205–7, 211
performance culture at, 207–8, 210–11, 216–17
rethinking failures at, 207–8, 217, 222
space shuttle disasters of, 207, 210–11, 220
Natarajan, Harish:
debate championships of, 97
question-based approach of, 112
in school subsidy debate, 97–103, 106–10, 112
negotiations, 106
adversarial approach vs. search for common ground in, 104–5
asking questions in, 105–6
debates as, 104
focusing on key points in, 105
humility and curiosity in, 105–6
networks, challenge, see challenge networks
New York Times, 248–49
New York Yankees, Red Sox rivalry with, 122–24, 126–27, 127, 128, 133–36
Nomad Health, 241
North Carolina, University of, Duke rivalry with, 131
Nozick, Robert, 194–95
nuance, 117, 168, 171, 174, 176, 183
Obama, Michelle, 230
Ochoa, Ellen, 217, 220–21
and Columbia space shuttle disaster, 210–11
Oddsson, Davíð:
in campaign for Iceland’s presidency, 37, 41, 54
career of, 41
and 2008 financial crisis, 36–37, 45
Office, The (TV show), 117–18
Office of Strategic Services, 56
Ohio State University, 132–33
open systems, 241
identities as, 243
opinions, see beliefs and opinions
Originals (Grant), 116
overconfidence, 92–93
overconfidence cycles, 28–29, 28, 61, 165, 188, 189, 208, 233, 252
overthinking, 235n
overview effect, in astronauts, 128–29
Parmitano, Luca, in spacesuit malfunction, 205–7, 211
passion, as sign of integrity, 178
passion talks, 198
pay, motivation and, 114
perfectionists, rethinking as difficult for, 195–96
performance cultures, 207–8, 221
best practices and, 216–17
learning cultures vs., 209
persuasion, beliefs as reinforced by failed attempts at, 144–45, 146
persuasive listening, 253
Peterson, Jordan, 175
pirates (misfits), 83, 84–85, 88–89
Pixar, 82–83
pirates at, 83, 84–85, 88–89
Planck, Max, 247
Plutarch, 132
polarization, political, 164
polarizing issues, conversations on, see charged conversations
police brutality, rethinking assumptions about, 10
politician mindset, 233, 248, 260
in collective rethinking, 163, 169, 183
in individual rethinking, 18–19, 21, 22, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29, 53, 62, 80, 85–86, 88
in interpersonal rethinking, 107, 108, 145, 156
preacher mindset, 233, 248, 251
in collective rethinking, 165, 167, 169, 175, 177, 183, 192, 200, 216
in individual rethinking, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29, 39, 60, 62, 76, 80, 91, 92
in interpersonal rethinking, 102, 104, 107, 108, 110, 111, 117n, 119, 124, 127, 132, 141, 144, 145, 146, 155, 156, 157
Prectet, Debra Jo, see Project Debater
prejudice, 121–41
conversation as antidote to, 140–41
see also rivalries; stereotypes
preschool subsidies, debate on, 97–102, 106–10, 112
presidents, U.S., intellectual curiosity and, 27
process accountability, best practices vs., 216–19, 256
Project Debater, in school subsidy debate, 97–102, 107–10, 112
proof, as enemy of progress, 219
prosecutor mindset, 230, 233, 248, 251
in collective rethinking, 165, 167, 169, 175, 177, 183, 192, 200
in individual rethinking, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 39, 53, 60, 62, 76, 80, 91, 92
in interpersonal rethinking, 102, 104, 107, 108, 110, 111, 113, 119, 124, 127, 132, 141, 145, 146, 155, 156, 157
psychological safety, 208–9, 210, 256
author’s experiments on, 212–13
at Gates Foundation, 212–13, 214–15
“how do you know” question and, 211–12
as lacking at NASA, 210–11
medical errors and, 208–9
process accountability and, 217–18
Quakers, clearness committees and, 156n
question-based approach:
in debates, 112–13
encouraging rethinking through, 253–54
in scientist mindset, 25–26
questions:
counterfactual, 137–39, 254
as encouraged by self-doubt, 53–54
“how do you know,” 211–12
“how” vs. “why,” 254
open-ended, 147, 148, 156
skilled negotiators’ use of, 105–6
“what do you want to be,” 225–26, 230, 231, 232
racial injustice, rethinking assumptions about, 10
racism, 10, 121–22, 139–41, 181–83
Rackham, Neil, 104, 105
Rawls, John, 178
reasoning, flawed:
prosecuting, 110, 111
prosecutor mindset, 21, 22, 22, 60, 76, 80, 91, 92
reflective listening, 147
relationship conflict, 78–80, 79
as barrier to rethinking, 80
task conflict and, 90, 91–93
relationships, rethinking in, 236–37
rethinking, 3–4
encouraging others to adopt, see interpersonal rethinking
in individuals, see individual rethinking
in lifelong learning, see collective rethinking
making time for, 257
as mindset, 16
negative responses to, 30
process of, 246–50
see also unlearning
rethinking cycle, 27, 28, 28, 45, 67, 83, 92, 112–13, 137, 140, 147, 158, 165, 171, 187, 188, 208, 234, 261
rethinking scorecards, 218–19, 218, 257
revisions and drafts, in learning process, 199–203, 256
righting reflex, 156
Ripley, Amanda, 163, 165
rituals, sports rivalries as, 133
rivalries:
animosity in, 124–25
in business, 124
group polarization in, 128
humanizing the other side in, 130–31
in sports, see sports rivalries
see also prejudice; stereotypes
Rock, Chris, 230
Rollnick, Stephen, 146, 152, 153, 154, 156
Roosevelt, Franklin D., trial-and-error method of, 248–50
Sandler, Adam, 238–39
Saturday Night Li
ve (TV show), 238–39
Schulz, Kathryn, 67
science:
peer-review process in, 86
unlearning in, 188–90
scientific method, 20, 199, 247–48
skepticism in, 169–70
“scientist,” coining of term, 247
scientist mindset, 23, 53, 62, 66–67, 74, 76, 92, 93, 116, 145, 186, 249–50
as actively questioning beliefs and assumptions, 25–26
author’s adoption of, 26–27
career change and, 235
caveats and contingencies in, 173–74, 176, 255
in charged conversations, 183
and consistent narrative vs. accurate record, 174–75
in debates, 102–6
entrepreneurs and, 20–22, 21, 251
humility as characteristic of, 28
rethinking as central to, 19–20, 247–48, 251
Scotland, career choices in, 233n
Scott, Michael (char.), 118
second opinions, 18
Seinfeld, Jerry, 133
Seinfeld (TV show), 68, 118
Seles, Monica, 124n
self, sense of, 8, 9, 12
commonality in, 129
detaching beliefs and opinions from, 62, 63–64, 69–70, 76, 251–52
identity foreclosure and, 230
as open system, 243
present vs. past, 62–63, 69, 76, 251
rethinking as challenge to, 4, 7, 42
tribes and, 125–26
self-awareness, 39, 48
self-deprecation:
gender and, 72n
self-confidence and, 72
self-doubt:
asking questions as encouraged by, 53–54
benefits of, 49–54, 252
humility vs., 46
see also impostor syndrome
self-esteem, evolution of, 241
Seneca, 35
sexism, 10
Shandell, Marissa, 234–35
Shaw, George Bernard, 15
Silver, Nate, 66
simplification:
internet and, 171
media and, 171
resistance to, see complexification
skepticism, in scientific method, 169–70
skeptics, deniers vs., 169
smartphone revolution, 16, 22, 23, 31
Smith, Will, 73
social networks, polarizing issues and, 164–65
space, Earth as seen from, 128–29
sports, stock market influence of, 126
sports rivalries, 122–28
author’s experiments on, 131–32, 133–36
group polarization in, 128
as rituals, 133
stereotyping in, 127
status quo bias, 194n
stereotypes, 121–41
animosity and, 127
as barrier to rethinking, 124
conversation as antidote to, 140–41
group polarization and, 127–28