Embracing the mindset of a scientist can be transformative. It's not just about test tubes and lab coats, but a way of thinking that can enhance decision-making, problem-solving, and understanding of the world. Discover why adopting this perspective can be beneficial for you.
In a rapidly changing world, it’s important to be able to adapt and change
You have to be willing and able to change your mind. Otherwise, your expertise can fail, your opinions get out of date, and your ideas fall flat
- In his book, “Think Again,” Adam Grant explains why it’s so important for people to be humbler about their knowledge and stay open to learning and changing their minds.
Scientific Mindset
Thinking like a scientist does not mean you need to own a telescope or a microscope. It just means that you favor humility over pride and curiosity over conviction. You know what you don’t know, and you’re eager to discover new things.
- You don’t let your ideas become your identity. You look for reasons why you might be wrong, not just reasons you must be right.
Being wrong is joyful
Being wrong means you’ve learned something.
- If you can embrace the joy of being wrong, then you get to anchor your identity more in being someone who’s eager to discover new things, rather than someone who already knows everything, because there’s no freedom to stop learning.
Being willing to admit you’re wrong can accelerate your progress toward being right
The whole point of rethinking is to change your mind in the face of better logic or stronger evidence-not to just roll the dice and say, I’m going to pick a random new opinion today.
- You need humility. Confident humility is being able to say, “I don’t know and I might be wrong,” or “I haven’t figured it out yet,” which is essentially believing in yourself but doubting your current knowledge or skills.
Hopes for bridging the political divide
So many of us fall into binary bias, and we only focus on the most extreme version of the other side
- If you let go of that, there’s a whole complex spectrum and many shades of gray between these two political extremes
- Encourage people to think about complex topics through the many lenses of a prism, they become more nuanced and less polarized, and they are more likely to find common ground
- Hope that it will encourage more people to be more flexible in their own thinking
30 practical takeaways for rethinking
Be a “super-forecaster”
- Make a list of conditions that would change your mind upfront to keep yourself flexible
- Don’t give people more reasons than is necessary to persuade them
- Lead with your strongest argument
If you can embrace the joy of being wrong, then you get to anchor your identity more in being someone who’s eager to discover new things, than someone who already knows everything
Adam Grant, Ph.D.
- We all go to the doctor for regular checkups, even when nothing is wrong. We should do the same with the important decisions in our lives.
