Adam Grant has to be one of my favourite authors.
His books Originals, Give and take and the newly released Think again ( which I've just started to read) have constantly made me think and re-think many preconceived notions that I've had. (His podcast Work-Life is fantastic too). I especially like his perspective on how he brings his background in organisational psychology ( "the study of how to not make work suck", as he puts it ) and in a truly engaging form connects it to the broader human experience.
A concept he spoke of recently when we came on Dax shepherds podcast " Armchair expert" is something that stuck with me and made me think again. He referred to a study by Phil Tetlock on how we cant base our decision-making and judgment on us being rational creatures instead of basing it on how we engage socially.
The way we think and how we talk depends on our attitude relative to the people who matter to us. And so, to put it in a more straightforward sense, when we're not thinking or behaving rationally, we often end up talking and acting like either
A preacher,
A prosecutor,
or A Politician.
When we're in preacher mode, we communicate as if already convinced we know the truth and that all we have to do is convince the other side to share our faith.
When we're in Prosecutor mode, convinced the other person is wrong, and we're on a mission to prove them wrong to the best of our abilities. It's a classic "you're wrong, I'm right" scenario
And when we're in politician mode, we're a lot more flexible because, unlike the above two ways, here we're trying to win the approval of those around us, but many times this flexibility comes for the wrong reasons and, as such, doesn't take us down the right path
So think about your default, and next time you feel your self behaving like either of these three in passing judgement or making decisions, Maybe consider turning to your rational side instead.
Weekly recommendations
The Podcast episode in question.
?si=_eQFDs2wQou0yvnq9WLyqQ&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A6kAsbP8pxwaU2kPibKTuHE
A friend suggested i read this newsletter on both the future of Clubhouse and some interesting insights on Spotifys recent announcements
https://stratechery.com/2021/clubhouses-inevitability/
SELF-PLUG ALERT, I started a YouTube channel! And apart from a new podcast that’s slated to start on March 12’th called “The Varun Duggi show”, I’ll be posting insightful clips/shorties from a ton of my past podcast episodes. You might also see some of the concepts discussed in recent newsletters in video form.
Quote of the week
”I’m like everyone else- I see the world in terms of what I would like to see happen, not what actually does”
The Alchemist- Paulo Coelho
✌🏽
Are you a Politician, a Preacher or a Prosecutor in decision making & passing judgement ? + Weekly recommendations