Adam Grant

Somebody makes an argument I don't think is persuasive and I lock into prosecutor mode and I try to win the case.

And I realize I need people's approval and I start politicking and lobbying people and flattering them and brown nosing and doing whatever I can to appease my audience.

And that's that's politician mode.

And I think that we live in a world that is creating threats that make all of those modes more sensible in the moment than they might be if there was less flux or less stress.

Because when the world is changing under your feet, it's really helpful to feel like you have some ideals to preach.

And when somebody makes an argument that your job isn't going to exist, it gives you a sense of confidence and security to prosecute them.

And when you're wondering whether you're going to have support from a group of people, appeasing them, appealing to them, gives you a sense of belonging.

And I think that that is all completely understandable and often the exact opposite of what we need to do in a time of stress and turbulence.

Tell me about your experience of these things, because it sounds like you're doing them.

I think it benefits from all those things.

I don't know if it always requires it, but yes.

You're in Mad Men.

I think it depends on the way that you're putting the scientist mindset into action.

Okay, tell me more.

So, you know, when I think about it as an alternative to the others, I think about, you know, preaching, I'm just proselytizing my existing views.

Prosecuting, I'm going to attack your views or your proposal.

And politicking, I don't even have views.

I'm just trying to figure out what you think and, you know, get on board with that.

And I think what makes thinking like a scientist powerful is it reminds you that every opinion you hold is just a hypothesis.

And every decision you make, it's just an experiment.