How do internet browsers relate to job performance and initiative?

A study of 50,000 people found that users of non-default browsers like Chrome and Firefox tend to be better job performers and stay in their jobs longer than users of default browsers like Safari or Internet Explorer. This isn't about the browser itself, but the 'resourcefulness' to question the default and take initiative to find a better way, a trait that translates to proactive behavior and innovation in one's career.

Are child prodigies more likely to become adult geniuses?

Empirical evidence suggests that most child prodigies do not become known as adult geniuses. They often master existing methods without developing original thinking or risk-taking skills, as they are rewarded for replication rather than innovation. Adult geniuses often develop 'character skills' like embracing discomfort and imperfectionism.

What is the 'marshmallow test' and what does it reveal about success?

The classic marshmallow test offered children one marshmallow now or two if they waited. The original finding linked delayed gratification to better academic and life outcomes. However, re-evaluations show that 'skillpower' (strategies to make temptation less tempting) rather than just willpower is key. Socioeconomic status also plays a role, as scarcity can make waiting for a future reward unrealistic.

How does birth order influence risk-taking and IQ?

While the science is complex and effects are tiny, consistent evidence suggests firstborns have slightly higher average IQs (due to the 'tutor effect' of teaching younger siblings). Laterborns, however, tend to be more willing to take risks and become 'originals,' possibly due to greater freedom/independence and seeking to differentiate themselves from older siblings.

Do successful entrepreneurs take big risks?

The most successful entrepreneurs don't love risk; they take cautious risks and try to reduce the downside while increasing the upside. They often have 'side bets' or more realistic immediate missions to build a viable company, even while pursuing bold long-term visions, as exemplified by Elon Musk's approach to SpaceX.

Why is brainstorming often ineffective, and what are better alternatives?

Decades of research show that traditional brainstorming generates fewer and poorer ideas than individuals working alone, due to production blocking, ego threat, and conformity pressure (the 'HIIPO effect'). Brainwriting, where individuals generate ideas privately before collective refinement, is a more effective alternative for unlocking group potential.

What are the benefits of having 'impostor thoughts'?

While pervasive impostor syndrome (feeling like a fraud) is rare, 'impostor thoughts' (everyday doubts about one's abilities) are common and can be beneficial. They can motivate individuals to put in extra effort, listen, and learn from others to close the gap between how others perceive their capabilities and how they perceive themselves, thus becoming fuel for persistence and growth.

What's the difference between self-promotion and idea promotion?

Self-promotion is about drawing attention to oneself, one's accomplishments, and awards, often perceived as narcissistic. Idea promotion, conversely, is about sharing valuable insights or products, seen as an act of generosity to elevate something worthwhile. The latter helps creative work reach a wider audience without the negative connotations of bragging.

How can one avoid the pitfalls of 'preacher, prosecutor, and politician' modes of thinking?

To foster open-mindedness and learning, one should strive to 'think like a scientist.' This means viewing opinions as hypotheses to be tested and decisions as experiments that might succeed or fail. It also involves detaching one's self-worth from one's beliefs, instead grounding identity in values like curiosity and lifelong learning.

Adam Grant: 10 CRAZY Stats About Why Only 2% of the People Becomes Successful!

The Diary Of A CEO

People & Blogs5 min read107 min video

Feb 12, 2024|707,800 views|14,541|842

The Diary Of A CEO steven bartlett steve bartlett podcast the diary of a CEO podcast life lessons CEO

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TL;DR

Adam Grant discusses redefining success, the power of givers, and cultivating originality through strategic risk-taking and embracing discomfort.

Key Insights

Perfectionism can be a risk factor for burnout; 'good enough' is often more productive than striving for unattainable perfection.

Procrastination, when approached with intrinsic motivation, can foster creativity by allowing ideas to incubate.

Originals are not just idea generators but those who take initiative to execute and create change.

Givers, those who help others without a hidden agenda, often outperform takers in the long run.

To be an original, one must take initiative and execute ideas, not just conceive them.

Challenging defaults and questioning the status quo, like choosing a browser other than the pre-installed one, can be an indicator of a proactive mindset.

SUCCESS, HAPPINESS, AND REDEFINING THE GAME

Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, focuses on making work more fulfilling and helping individuals achieve their potential. He challenges conventional notions of success, emphasizing that happiness, meaning, and success are interconnected. Grant argues against the myth that being a 'taker' is necessary for success, presenting research that givers—those who help others selflessly—often outperform their peers. This perspective redefines the 'game' of success by prioritizing generosity and collaboration over pure self-interest, suggesting a more sustainable and fulfilling path to achievement.

THE MINDSET OF ORIGINALS: FROM IDEAS TO EXECUTION

Grant defines 'Originals' as individuals who not only conceive novel ideas but also take the initiative to implement them and drive change. He stresses that ideation without execution is merely hallucination. Drawing from personal anecdotes, including a failed social network concept and his own early online community project, Grant highlights the critical role of execution. The ability to act on one's ideas, even imperfectly, distinguishes true originals from those with unrealized potential, underscoring the importance of moving beyond mere thought to tangible action.

THE CREATIVE POWER OF STRATEGIC PROCRASTINATION AND IMPERFECTIONISM

Contrary to popular belief, Grant discusses how procrastination can enhance creativity. Research suggests that moderate procrastination allows ideas to incubate, fostering novel connections and reframing problems, especially for intrinsically motivated individuals. He also advocates for 'imperfectionism' over perfectionism, arguing that striving for 'good enough,' rather than flawlessness, prevents burnout and encourages risk-taking. This is crucial for growth, as overly focusing on perfection can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities for innovation.

CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO AND FOSTERING INNOVATION

Grant highlights how questioning defaults, like choosing a specific internet browser, can reflect a broader initiative to seek better ways. This proactive mindset extends to challenging the status quo in one's career. He uses Elon Musk as an example of an original who relentlessly pursues ambitious visions, though he distinguishes between pure risk-taking and strategic, calculated risks that manage downside. The ability to challenge established norms and seek improvement is fundamental to driving innovation, not just in business but in all aspects of life.

THE DYNAMIC OF TEAM CULTURE AND LEADERSHIP

Grant delves into team dynamics, debunking the 'babble effect' where dominant talkers are often wrongly elevated to leadership. He advocates for leaders who embody generosity and humility, prioritizing team success over ego and valuing continuous learning from every team member. Commitment cultures, prioritizing cultural fit and values, tend to be more successful in startups than 'star cultures.' However, he warns against excessive homogeneity, which can stifle diversity of thought and lead to groupthink, emphasizing the need for a balance between shared values and diverse perspectives.

CULTIVATING RESILIENCE AND ENBRACING DISCOMFORT

Grant views embracing discomfort and difficulty as learned skills rather than innate traits. He uses the marshmallow test to illustrate that strategies for managing temptation are key. Furthermore, resilience is not an individual trait but a support system, akin to scaffolding, that helps individuals bounce back from hardship. He emphasizes that learning to be comfortable with discomfort, whether through effort or by utilizing effective coping strategies like those observed in. This willingness to face challenges is crucial for personal growth and unlocking one's full potential.

BIRTH ORDER, RISK-TAKING, AND THE NATURE OF POTENTIAL

While acknowledging the complex and often contradictory research on birth order, Grant identifies two consistent, albeit small, effects: firstborns tend to have slightly higher IQs due to the 'tutor effect,' and laterborns are often more willing to take risks. This risk-taking can stem from increased independence granted by parents or a need to find a unique niche compared to older siblings. Grant also debunks the myth that successful entrepreneurs love risk; they are more likely to take cautious, calculated risks, focusing on reducing downside and increasing upside by strategically managing uncertainty.

THE VALUE OF A CHALLENGE NETWORK AND DELIBERATE PRACTICE

Grant stresses the importance of a 'challenge network'—trusted critics who provide honest feedback and reveal blind spots. This is distinct from cheerleaders and even from seeking general advice. He advocates for turning critics into coaches by asking for advice on future actions rather than feedback on past performance. This shift encourages more actionable and supportive guidance. Furthermore, Grant teaches that confidence is built by taking action, not by waiting to feel ready, and that embracing imperfection and seeking discomfort are vital for continuous growth and potential realization.

BRAINWRITING OVER BRAINSTORMING AND THE POWER OF QUESTIONING BELIEFS

Decades of research show that brainstorming in groups often yields fewer and lower-quality ideas compared to individuals working alone due to production blocking, ego threat, and conformity. Grant champions 'brainwriting,' where individuals first write down ideas independently before sharing and rating them. This process preserves individual judgment and fosters divergent thinking. He also distinguishes between beliefs (what one thinks is true) and values (what one deems important), suggesting that basing identity on values, not beliefs, allows for flexibility and growth by making it easier to change one's mind when presented with new evidence.

SELF-PROMOTION VERSUS IDEA PROMOTION AND CONTINUOUS LEARNING

Grant differentiates between self-promotion, which focuses on personal accomplishments and can appear narcissistic, and idea promotion, which is an act of generosity aimed at sharing valuable insights. He encourages individuals to promote their ideas, even if it feels intimidating, as it serves to benefit others. The pursuit of truth and knowledge through sharing and continuous learning is paramount. This involves embracing inconsistency, accepting being wrong, and disassociating self-worth from being right. By framing beliefs as hypotheses and decisions as experiments, one can adopt a more scientific, open-minded approach to life.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Organizations

●Books

●People Referenced

Unlocking Potential: Do's and Don'ts

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Question the default and take initiative to find better ways (browser analogy).

Embrace moderate procrastination for increased creativity, especially when intrinsically motivated.

Aim for 'good enough' in most tasks to ship and iterate, reserving perfection for high-impact projects.

Lean into discomfort; view it as a learned skill and practice strategies to make it less daunting.

Cultivate a 'challenge network' of thoughtful critics who you trust to provide honest feedback.

Criticize yourself out loud to create psychological safety for others to give feedback.

Practice 'brainwriting' (individual idea generation followed by collective refinement) for better group ideas.

Base your identity on values (e.g., curiosity, lifelong learning) rather than beliefs to facilitate changing your mind.

Seek advice instead of just feedback to get more concrete, future-oriented suggestions.

Avoid This

Avoid extreme procrastination (never or always).

Don't confuse confidence for competence when selecting leaders; prioritize generosity and humility.

Avoid hiring solely for 'culture fit' if it leads to homogeneity and stifles diversity of thought.

Don't expect perfection, but calibrate your effort to the impact of the task.

Don't let your ideas become your identity, as it makes admitting mistakes difficult.

Common Questions

Research suggests that both never procrastinating and always procrastinating lead to less creativity. Moderate procrastination, especially when intrinsically motivated, can boost creativity by allowing ideas to incubate and providing distance to reframe problems. However, it's crucial to distinguish this from procrastination driven by boredom or lack of interest, which is not beneficial.

Topics

Adam Grant Hidden Potential Perfectionism Thinking Like A Scientist Organizational Psychology

Mentioned in this video

bookOriginals

Adam Grant's book that explores how to champion new ideas and fight groupthink, defining 'originals' as people who not only question norms but take action to create better ways.

softwareGoogle Chrome

An internet browser, mentioned as an example of non-default software whose users tend to be better performers due to showing initiative.

productThe Incredibles

A Pixar animated film, highlighted as a success story of disruption and innovation driven by director Brad Bird, who challenged existing norms.

bookGive and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success

Adam Grant's book that introduced the giver-taker framework, advocating for the long-term success of those who help others.

bookThink Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know

Adam Grant's book that discusses the importance of rethinking ideas and embracing being wrong to learn and grow.

bookHidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

Adam Grant's newest book, focusing on underestimating potential and the pathways to growth and achievement.

softwareSafari

A default internet browser, whose users tend to be less proactive and creative on average compared to those who choose alternative browsers.

toolInternet Explorer

toolMozilla Firefox

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