Intellectual Humility is a mindset. It enhances intellectual flexibility because it focuses on remaining curious. It emphasizes valuing that new information may alter your understanding of the world.
Research has shown that Intellectual Humility builds capacity to learn, improves relationships and increases our tolerance. These are all elements that can enhance overall happiness and satisfaction.
How do you develop this type of mindset? The Greater Good Center, at the University of California, Berkeley has some suggestions.
Ask yourself questions: When you find yourself disagreeing with someone, listen and discern rather than focus energies on defending your position. Ask yourself:
Why do I disagree?
How did I come to hold this view?
Do I have all of the information?
Where did I get this information?
Then turn the lens on the other person’s view and reflect on:
Where did their beliefs come from?
What information might they have that I don't?
Cultivate patience: Especially around passionate topics, there can be the feeling that we need to act immediately. Psychologist Mark Leary reminds us that "The brain evolved the capacity to think in order to guide our behavior in adaptive ways. If we assume that our understanding of almost anything improves over time, then there's no reason to draw a firm conclusion until we need to act on it.” In short, allow yourself time to reflect before forming opinions. Understand that things may need some time to percolate in your brain before you adopt a fully formed belief system.
Get comfortable with mistakes: It can be hard for many of us to admit when we are wrong. Especially in business, we can feel that we have to appear faultless. Actually, respect increases when others trust that you will take responsibility for your actions. Psychologist Rick Hanson suggests, "Start by reminding yourself how it is in your own best interests to admit fault and move on. We might think that admitting fault is weak or that it lets the other person off the hook for [their] faults. But actually, it takes a strong person to admit fault, and it puts us in a stronger position with others."
Get inspired: Doing things that get us out of our own heads can be a boost to developing Intellectual Humility. Experiencing something that is inspiring or has a sense of wonder can remind us that we are part of a much bigger picture and that we are just one small part of that picture. Researchers have found that this sense of wonder is cultivated in places that have a physical vastness and novelty. For example, connecting to nature by hiking to a beautiful vista or looking out across a cityscape from the top of a building.
Each one of us will have areas of strength and improvement when it comes to developing Intellectual Humility. Take some time to reflect on how you can nurture these essential elements to help yours flourish.
Photo by Greg Rakozy
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