Adam Grant opened up the first official day of the 2023 Association for Talent Development (ATD) conference. The conference brought together 9,000 attendees with the goal of creating a world that works better. Grant, an organizational psychologist from Wharton University, shared his insights on the power of rethinking and knowing what you don’t know. Let’s delve into his thought-provoking presentation and explore key takeaways that can help organizations and individuals thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Unlocking the Power of Rethinking
Grant emphasized that while we may excel at thinking, we often struggle with rethinking. We tend to become locked into our initial ideas and resist reassessing and pivoting. Grant pointed out that this aversion to rethinking can hinder business growth and success. He highlighted the need for a challenge network—individuals who can identify our blind spots, challenge our assumptions, and provide honest feedback. Disagreeable givers who genuinely want to see us succeed but aren’t afraid to offer critical insights can be valuable members of this network.
Creating Psychological Safety
Grant emphasized the importance of creating a psychologically safe environment within organizations. Employees who feel safe are more likely to speak up about mistakes and challenges. Instead of adopting the “don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions” mentality, which can lead to problem concealment, leaders should encourage open dialogue and value critical feedback.
Grant shared examples of faculty members reading their course evaluations out loud, demonstrating the importance of embracing constructive criticism and taking responsibility for addressing problems.
Leaders can gain valuable insights into areas that require improvement by actively listening to their employees.
Rethinking Mindsets
Rethinking is not an easy task, but it is a necessary one. It requires us to challenge our assumptions, seek diverse perspectives, and be open to the possibility of being wrong. By doing so, we can uncover new insights, discover innovative solutions, and adapt to the ever-changing demands of our environment.
Grant introduced a mindset pyramid that highlighted different approaches to thinking. At the bottom are mindsets focused on being right or proving others wrong. In contrast, the top of the pyramid represents a scientific mindset—being open to the possibility of being wrong, questioning assumptions, and conducting experiments to test hypotheses.
Grant highlighted the success of scientific startups that prioritize adaptability and rapid iteration. He encouraged organizations to adopt a similar approach, conducting experiments, seeking independent feedback, and embracing the idea that being wrong is a stepping stone to growth.
Challenge Networks
As individuals, we can start reinforcing the rethinking muscle by developing our own challenge network—surrounding ourselves with people who are unafraid to provide honest feedback and question our ideas. This network can include colleagues, mentors, or friends who bring different perspectives and expertise. By seeking their input, we can identify blind spots, uncover biases, and gain a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues.
Strategies for Success
Grant shared several strategies to foster a culture of growth and adaptability. These strategies included seeking independent feedback, conducting experiments, and embracing alternative hypotheses.
Grant also suggested asking others to rate our performance from zero to ten, enabling us to gain valuable insights and learn how to improve. He emphasized the need to focus on the process rather than solely on outcomes and make decisions with limited choices to avoid unnecessary complexity.
Grant cited the example of Bridgewater, a company that encourages challenging the status quo through practices like onboarding agreement, providing opportunities for employees to criticize their bosses, and holding bosses accountable for their performance.
Creating a psychologically safe environment is another crucial step in fostering a rethinking culture. Innovation and growth flourish when employees feel safe to voice their opinions, share mistakes, and challenge the status quo without fear of retribution. Leaders play a vital role in establishing this environment by actively encouraging open dialogue, valuing dissenting opinions, and appreciating the importance of constructive criticism.
The Power of Unlearning
Grant also highlighted the importance of allocating time for rethinking and unlearning alongside traditional thinking and learning. He emphasized the value of paying attention to the advice we give to others and constantly seeking advice ourselves. Grant encouraged individuals and organizations to embrace adaptability, challenge their assumptions, and be unafraid of change.
Conclusion
Adam Grant’s keynote presentation at the ATD conference provided powerful insights into the art of rethinking. By fostering a challenge network, creating psychological safety, adopting a scientific mindset, and implementing strategies for growth, organizations can embrace change and thrive in today’s dynamic landscape. As we navigate the future, let us remember the words of Grant: “What are you waiting for? Embrace the power of rethinking, and unleash your potential for success.”
Cover photo is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 license. Credit: Jamey Stillings (see original file).
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