Think Again

Book summary

Adam Grant is an award-winning organizational psychologist and a professor at Wharton Business School. He has over 60 journal publications and has presented for many prestigious organizations, such as Google, Facebook and the United Nations.

Blackberry’s meteoric rise and fall from 2009 to 2014 illustrates the dangers of resisting change in a rapidly evolving world. Founder Mike Lazaridis’s refusal to adapt to shifting consumer preferences, even as Apple’s iPhone gained dominance, serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of rethinking strategies. Success today demands not just confidence in one’s vision but also humility to question methods and integrate new insights. Adopting a scientific mindset—treating strategies as hypotheses to be tested—can help leaders pivot effectively, as demonstrated by research on adaptable startups. This need for adaptability extends beyond business to personal growth, negotiations, and even tackling societal issues like prejudice and misinformation. From Daryl Davis’s transformative conversations with Ku Klux Klan members to Dr. Arnaud Gagneur’s motivational interviewing with vaccine-hesitant parents, fostering self-reflection and curiosity proves more effective than confrontation. Similarly, organizations like NASA highlight the risks of rigid, performance-driven cultures that stifle reevaluation, as seen in the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster. Embracing a learning culture, where mistakes are opportunities for growth, is essential for innovation and long-term success. Ultimately, whether addressing individual biases or organizational challenges, the ability to rethink and adapt is key to thriving in an ever-changing landscape.

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