Adam Grant On The Joy of Being Wrong, The Power of Rethinking & The Future of Work

If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is wisdom. Now more than ever, opinions divide us. Meanwhile, our ability to effectively communicate has degraded, fueled by social media algorithms and self-selected information silos that confirm our biases, calcify our world views, and consequently drive us even further apart. As a result we suffer—individually and as a collective. According to today’s guest—an expert in opening other people’s minds—the solution lies in thinking more critically, flexibly and scientifically. It’s about arguing like you’re right but listening like you’re wrong. Bringing curiosity and nuance to charged conversations. And learning how to embrace the joy of being wrong. Meet Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist who specializes in how we can find motivation and meaning in work, and live more generous and creative lives. After graduating from Harvard magna cum laude, Adam completed his master’s degree and Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in just three years. At 28 he became Wharton’s youngest-ever tenured professor, where he has been recognized as the top-rated professor for seven straight years, named one of the world’s 10 most influential management thinkers and listed among Fortune‘s 40 under 40. One of the world’s most-cited, prolific and significant researchers in business and economics, Adam is the author of several New York Times bestselling books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 35 languages, including Give and Take, Originals, and Option B. His books have been named among the year’s best by Amazon, Apple, the Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal and praised by J.J. Abrams, Richard Branson, Bill and Melinda Gates, Malcolm Gladwell, Daniel Kahneman, and Malala Yousafzai.  Certain to be another culture-tilting bestseller, Adam’s new book, and the focus of today’s conversation, is  Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know. In addition, Adam’s TED Talks on original thinkers and givers and takers have garnered over 20 million views. And when he’s not writing, teaching, parenting, or consulting on behalf of organizations like Google, the NBA, or the Gates Foundation, he hosts WorkLife, a chart-topping TED original podcast. Equal parts fun and powerful, this conversation is about the importance and power of interpersonal and collective rethinking.  We discuss strategies for engaging with others who see the world differently. And what we can learn when we lead not with argumentation but rather with curiosity and humility. In a time of entrenched polarization, Adam creates space for nuance. He teaches us to think critically and carefully. To ask questions. And to hold our views flexibly.  He also offers sage advice on work in the time of COVID, when so many people’s professional ecosystems have been turned upside down.  My hope is that this exchange encourages you to identify your own biases. Emboldens you to connect more meaningfully with those who see things differently. And inspires you to relish in being wrong. The visually inclined can watch our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It was an honor to hold space with a luminary I have greatly respected from afar. And to make a new friend along the way. May this conversation leave you thinking more critically about your own beliefs—and more empathetically about others’. Peace + Plants, Listen, Watch & Subscribe Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts Thanks to this week’s sponsors: Athletic Greens: 75 whole food sourced ingredients designed to optimize 5 key areas of health, Athletic Greens is the delicious daily habit that sets you up for a healthy future. I take the packets everywhere I go. So invest in your health without compromise! Go to: athleticgreens.com/richroll and claim your special offer today: 20 FREE travel packs valued at $79 with your first purchase. Calm: The #1 app for meditation and sleep with 100+ guided meditations covering anxiety, focus, stress, sleep, relationships and more. Right now, my listeners can get a special limited-time promotion of 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at calm.com/richroll. It includes unlimited access to ALL of Calm’s amazing content. Get started today! On Running: Born in the Swiss Alps, On Running is the world’s fastest-growing running brand. 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For $200 off ALL mattress orders, visit BirchLiving.com/RichRoll SHOW NOTES:Adam Grant: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Book: Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the WorldBook: Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to SuccessBook: Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t KnowBook: Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding JoyBook: Leif and the FallPodcast: WorkLife with Adam GrantTED: Are You A Giver Or A Taker?TED: The Surprising Habits Of Original ThinkersNY Times: Columns by Adam GrantThe Atlantic: Articles by Adam GrantHarvard Business Review: In the Company of Givers and TakersNew York Times: The Science Of Reasoning With Unreasonable PeopleNew York Times: Articles By Adam GrantINC: Prolific Wharton Professor Adam Grant Doesn’t Worry About Time Management. Here’s What He Does Instead–and So Should YouINC: Want to Stop Procrastinating in 2021? New Research Says Ask Yourself 4 Questions–RepeatedlyInc.: Adam Grant: There Is Such a Thing as Too Much AuthenticityInc.: Why The Best Leaders Love Being WrongInc.: Want to Be More Successful in 2021? Embrace the Power of RethinkingInc.: Prolific Wharton Professor Adam Grant Doesn’t Worry About Time ManagementMarker: Adam Grant Picks 12 Books to Kick Off 2021The Washington Post: Adam Grant says productivity has improved as workers stay homeForbes: 10 Easy Ways To Develop Strong Professional Relationships In A Virtual Working WorldForbes: Is That The Best Solution? ‘Think Again’ Says Adam GrantOZY: Adam Grant’s Philosophy Of GivingWBUR: Teaching Your Kids Kindness May Help Them Succeed Later In Life I'm proud to announce my new book 'Voicing Change'. To learn more & pre-order now, visit, richroll.com/vc There are a few simple ways you can support the show and the content we strive to craft and share every single week Subscribe & Review: Please make sure to review, share comments and subscribe to the show on the various platforms (Apple Podcasts, YouTube & Spotify). This helps tremendously! Patronize Our Sponsors: Supporting the companies that support the show! For a complete list of all RRP sponsors and their respective vanity URLs and discount codes, click the ‘Sponsors’ tab in the ‘Shop’ menu. Spread The Word: Help grow our reach by sharing your enthusiasm for the podcast and/or your favorite episodes by posting about it on social media. Thank The Team: I do not do this alone. Send your love to Jason Camiolo for production, audio engineering and show notes; Margo Lubin and Blake Curtis for video, editing and graphics; portraits by Ali Rogers & Davy Greenberg; copywriting by Georgia Whaley; and theme music by Tyler Piatt. 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