30 actionable takeaways from Think Again by Adam Grant

Think Again explores the power of knowing what you don’t know. Through this book discover how rethinking can lead to excellence at work and wisdom in life. I present a summary of the book using quotes and excerpts from the book, and my simple interpretations of them.

What is Rethinking?

Intelligence is traditionally viewed as the ability to think and learn. There’s another set of cognitive skills that matter more – the ability to rethink and unlearn. Our identities are old systems and so are our lives. We don’t have to stay tethered to old images.

Why Rethinking?

Let go of knowledge and opinions that are no longer serving you well, and anchor your sense of self inflexibility rather than consistency. Wisdom is knowing when to abandon some of your most treasured tools and some of most cherished parts of your identity.

Rethinking liberates us to do more than update our knowledge and opinions. It’s a tool for leading a more fulfilling life.

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Think Again by Adam Grant

Published in 2021 by Penguin random House UK

Pages: 320

How to Rethink?

The simplest way to start rethinking out options is to question what we do daily.

Individual Rethinking

Develop the habit of Thinking Again

Think like a scientist

Do not preach, prosecute or politick.
Test your hypothesis with data.

Define your identity in terms of values, not opinions.

Avoid sticking to your past beliefs.
Value curiosity, learning, mental flexibility, and thirst for knowledge.
Maintain a factor list to change your mind.

Seek out information that goes against your views.

Actively engage with ideas challenging your assumptions.
Follow proactive thinkers.

Calibrate your confidence.

Beware of getting stranded at the summit of Mount Stupid.

Do not confuse confidence with competence
Reflect on how well you can explain a subject.

Harness the benefits of doubt.

Reframe it for a growth opportunity

Embrace the joy of being wrong.

Know that you’ve discovered something new
Laugh at yourself often.

Invite others to question your Thinking

Learn something new from each person you meet.

Everyone knows more than you about something.

Build a challenge network, not just a support network.

Encourage cheer leaders as well as critics.

Don’t shy away from constructive conflict.

Frame disagreements as a debate
Task conflict can help you think again.

Interpersonal Rethinking

Ask better questions

Practice the art of persuasive listening

Listen more talk less
Increase your question-to-statement ratio

Question how rather than why

Why explains extremes
How explains how views can turn real.

Ask what evidence would change your mind?

Open a questioning person’s mind.

Ask how people originally formed an opinion.

Reevaluate arbitrary opinions developed without rigorous data.

Approach disagreements as Dances, Not Battles

Acknowledge common ground

Be willing to negotiate about what’s true.

Remember that less is often more

Lead with a few of your strongest points

Reinforce freedom of choice.

Leave it to people to choose what they believe in.

Have a conversation about a conversation.

Direct discussion to the process.

Collective Rethinking

Have more Nuanced Conversations

Complexify contentious topics

Look at the shades of grey rather than two sides of a coin.

Don’t shy away from caveats and contingencies

Acknowledge competing claims.

Expand your emotional range

Confusion, frustration, indignation are valid emotions.

Create Learning Organizations

Abandon best practices

Strive for better practices.

Establish psychological safety

Role model humility.

Keep a rethinking scorecard.

Track the options.

Stay Open to Rethinking Your Future

Throw out the ten-year plan

Develop new passions.

Rethink your actions, not just your surroundings

Build a sense of purpose.

Schedule a life checkup

Assess your learning and growth.

Make time to think again.

Schedule time for rethinking and unlearning.