GRANTED: The case for closing open offices and opening our minds
September 2022
The sweet spot of worrying about other people's opinions is caring enough to learn from them, but not so much that you conform to them.
It takes humility to rethink your views in the face of disapproval. It takes integrity to put your personal values above social approval.
Some links that resonated with my values this month:
1. The Trait That “Super Friends” Have in Common (Marisa Franco, Atlantic)
A psychologist specializing in the science of attachment styles explores how we can get better at adult friendships.
2. The Immortal Awfulness of Open Plan Workplaces (David Brooks, NYT)
The evidence is clear: open offices are bad for people and organizations. You get 27% more sick days, 14% lower cognitive performance, and ironically, 70% less face-to-face interaction. For the sake of health, productivity, and collaboration, we should all have access to spaces with doors.
3. Is Humanity Smart Enough to Survive Itself? (Jeanette Winterson, TED)
A riveting talk on the future of intelligence.
From my desk
4. The Value of Rethinking Deeply-Held Beliefs (PBS Firing Line)
Margaret Hoover and I discuss strategies for opening others’ minds—and our own—at work, in politics, and in everyday interactions.
5. Re:Thinking (TED)
My two new conversations:
How free solo climber Alex Honnold faces fear: Apple | Spotify | Transcript
Surgeon Atul Gawande wants everyone to have a coach: Apple | Spotify | Transcript
In solidarity,
Adam Grant, Ph.D.
Organizational psychologist at Wharton, author of THINK AGAIN, and host of the TED podcasts Re:Thinking and WorkLife