Think back to kindergarten. For many of us it was the first time we were navigating the social world without mom or dad. To help students make this significant transition, Kindergarten teachers set parameters for a positive classroom culture.
One of the tools they use is easy to understand classroom rules that often look something like this:
Be respectful and kind
Be a good listener
Follow directions
Share with others
Simple and impactful. With a few words, it is clear what is expected of you and what can be expected of others. It would seem to be a no-brainer to keep these rules at the forefront of our minds as we grow and develop.
What if, as we hone our own belief systems, we remain open and respectful to opposing views by carefully listening and responding from a place of kindness? Can you imagine what the current political climate would look like if we all embodied our kindergarten selves?
There is a way to keep the kindergarten ethos alive in adult life. It is embodied in the concept of Intellectual Humility.
What is Intellectual Humility?
Researcher, Mark Leary defines Intellectual Humility this way, “People who are high in intellectual humility keep in mind that whatever they believe to be true could be wrong and, thus, they might need to revise their views at any time.”
It doesn’t mean that you aren’t strong, even passionate about your beliefs. It does mean that you understand your opinions are possibly fallible because of innate personal bias and the inability to access unlimited information.
Someone who is intellectually humble, focuses on the quality of information. They vet their sources and value gathering information from a variety of places. They seek out opinions different from their own and want to understand how these opinions are formed. Their focus is remaining curious and intellectually flexible in pursuit of knowledge.
There are many examples of intellectual humility throughout history.
Lincoln famously put together a cabinet of people who were very different from one another (and who famously did not like each other). In this way he received a more holistic view of the world before making very important presidential decisions.
If Galleleo had not challenged his understanding of the movement of planets, we would not understand our place in the cosmos. When he made observations that contradicted the understanding that the Earth was the center of the universe, he didn’t double down and look for information that validated the current theory. He remained inquisitive and open to the possibility that there could be a different reality.
Thomas Edison’s famous quote: “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work” embodies the concept of Intellectual Humility. He remained passionate about his belief that an electrical light bulb was possible. He also valued taking in new information and exploring alternative pathways to reach his goal.
If you think about it, Intellectual Humility is at the heart of moving our world forward.
In organizations, Intellectual Humility develops a culture of collaboration. Innovation is enhanced because people remain open, have a desire to hear varied perspectives and accept their own limitations.
Next week, we will share ways that you can enhance your own Intellectual Humility.
Photo by Monica Sedra
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