GRANTED: Your favorite ideas of 2022

December 2022

We pay too much attention to the most confident voices—and too little attention to the most thoughtful ones.
 
Certainty is not a sign of credibility. Speaking assertively is not a substitute for thinking deeply. It's better to learn from complex thinkers than smooth talkers.
 
That's what the Granted community is about. From everything I’ve shared this year, here are your top sources of thoughtfulness:

1. The Benefits of Not Being a Jerk to Yourself (Dan Harris, TED)
A wise, hilarious talk about how beating yourself up doesn't make you stronger—it leaves you bruised. Being kind to yourself isn’t about ignoring your weaknesses. It's about giving yourself permission to learn from your mistakes.

2. It’s Your Friends Who Break Your Heart (Jennifer Senior, Atlantic)
What makes a good friendship—and why even great ones sometimes fall apart. This long read is as insightful as it is moving.
 
3. Adversarial Collaboration (Daniel Kahneman, Edgecast)
The Nobel laureate makes the case that instead of attacking our constructive critics, we should join forces with them.
 
4. Why Did We Stop Believing That People Can Change? (Rebecca Solnit, NYT)
A vital part of believing in people is seeing their potential for growth. A key to humility is recognizing that they change on their own timelines and paths, not yours.
 
And your favorite links from my desk:
 
5. Read: How to Argue, Better (Guardian)
Avoiding minor arguments is a missed opportunity for learning. It takes practice to manage emotions, maintain respect, and rethink opinions. The best way to prepare for big debates is to train with small ones.
 
6. Watch: 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.
 
7. Listen:

• The not-so-great resignation: Apple | Spotify | Transcript

• Reese Witherspoon on turning impostor syndrome into confidence: Apple | Spotify | Transcript

Wishing you all the best for 2023. In the meantime, to all fellow Wolverines: Go Blue!

In solidarity,

Adam Grant, Ph.D.
Organizational psychologist at Wharton, author of THINK AGAIN, and host of the TED podcasts Re:Thinking and WorkLife