View intelligence not just as the ability to think and learn, but as the ability to rethink and unlearn, which is crucial for excellence at work and wisdom in life in a turbulent world.
Regularly question long-held assumptions and opinions before external forces compel you to, as beliefs that once fit may no longer be relevant in a changing world.
Define your personal identity based on core values (e.g., generosity, excellence, integrity, freedom) rather than specific opinions or beliefs, allowing for flexibility in how those values are lived and expressed.
Approach your opinions as hypotheses to be tested through experiments in life, taking joy in discovering when cherished beliefs are wrong or incomplete, as it’s a valuable learning opportunity.
Be confident in your ability to learn and solve problems, but maintain humility about your current knowledge, recognizing what you don’t know and fostering curiosity to discover new information.
Recognize fleeting imposter thoughts (e.g., ‘maybe I don’t belong here’) as normal and potentially beneficial, as they can foster humility, self-questioning, and lead to more compassionate and smarter decisions.
Use provisional language in communication (e.g., ‘I think,’ ‘it seems’) to signal that your beliefs are not carved in stone, which reduces personal pain, encourages psychological safety for others, and aligns with impermanence.
Be cautious of communicating with absolute certainty, exuding overconfidence, or being overly authoritative, as this style can deter others from openness and trap you in cycles of overconfidence.
When facing disagreement, adopt a stance of genuine curiosity to understand the other person’s worldview, asking questions to learn how they arrived at their beliefs, rather than immediately trying to prove them wrong.
Affirm respect for others who hold different views on important issues, even if you don’t agree with their conclusions, as this basic affirmation can lead to more nuanced and less polarized discussions.
Reframe disagreements as opportunities for ’task conflict’ (intellectual debate about ideas) rather than ‘relationship conflict’ (personal, emotional), by explicitly stating a goal to learn from the discussion.
Engage in reflective listening by repeating the core ideas of what someone has said in your own words, which signals understanding, de-escalates conflict, and prevents debating with insufficient information.
When trying to help others change, focus on helping them find their own motivation by asking open-ended questions about their goals and potential paths, rather than trying to impose your agenda.
In conversations about potential change, express belief in the other person’s will and skill to change if they choose to, without dictating the ‘how’ or ‘whether’ they should.
To counter the Dunning-Kruger effect, ask overconfident individuals to explain the mechanisms or practical implementation of what they claim to know, which often reveals gaps in their understanding and fosters humility.
Actively cultivate a ‘challenge network’ of trusted critics who will hold you accountable for open-mindedness and point out flaws in your thinking, rather than just a support network that reinforces your views.
On social media, prioritize following individuals who make you think hard and challenge your perspectives, rather than those who simply make you feel good or affirm your existing beliefs.
Deliberately seek out information and perspectives that contradict your current views to counteract confirmation bias and desirability bias, especially on issues where you hold strong convictions.
When open to rethinking, establish clear standards for what specific evidence (facts and data) would genuinely change your mind, rather than being swayed by mere persuasive arguments.
When forming a tentative opinion, explicitly list the conditions or criteria under which you would be willing to change your mind, ensuring a rigorous and thoughtful evolution of beliefs.
If time commitment is a barrier to meditation, start with short, 5-10 minute daily introductory sessions, by reallocating time from less productive activities like social media.
If personal motivation for a new habit is low, consider finding external motivation by engaging in the habit with or for others you care about, especially if they might benefit.
Instead of viewing opposing groups as monolithic or black-and-white, recognize the complex spectrum of beliefs within them, understanding that many individuals are not one-dimensional.
Seek out and acknowledge the nuance within the middle of ideological or political spectrums, recognizing shared ground with those who hold different views to facilitate more reasonable conversations.