Jeffrey Rosen on Intellectual Humility and the Constitution
Writing Exercises
Identify a time when you learned and benefited from taking in an alternative perspective
Identify a time when you learned something that completely changed a prior belief and how that benefitted you
Identify a time when you close-mindedly rejected another’s perspective that, in hindsight, was a big mistake
Identify topics where it is difficult for you to see value in the alternative perspective and then seek out and write about the value in that alternative perspective
Identify how you want to respond the next time you receive constructive criticism
Identify how you want to respond the next time you receive constructive criticism
Identify a time that you took too strong of a stance on a position and identify what you should have done differently
Discussion
Mindset Mastery
Try to describe to someone the difference between a closed and an open mindset
Try to describe why having an open mindset is so beneficial and why having a closed mindset can be so detrimental.
Mindset awakening
When was an instance where you or your team had a closed mindset and how it affected you personally and the broader group?
When was an instance where you or your team had an open mindset and how it affected you personally and the broader group?
It is common for us to shut down the ideas of others?
When are the times that we shut down the ideas of others?
How psychologically safe is our environment?
Who is someone that you know that has a fixed mindset? How does that limit them?
Do you feel like your opinions count?
How can we help your opinions count more?
What is our culture related to giving and receiving feedback?
Are we intellectually humble?
What are topics that we take a strong stand on? Do we take too strong of a stand on it?
Who is someone that you know that has a closed mindset? How does that limit them?
Is there any evidence that we have any of the following fears?
Fear of:
Being wrong
Admitting that we have been wrong
Losing control
Losing respect
Not being the smartest person in the room
While these fears may be protecting us in some way, how are they holding us back?
Self-talk
Am I being open- or closed-minded?
How full is my bucket?
How would someone who is intellectually humble approach this?
What makes them think that?
Where are they coming from?
What information would they need to have to take that position?
When they feel they have a voice, they feel of value
Write two paragraphs about your goals and aspirations
Answer: What is your purpose? What is your destination?
Identify a time when you took a purpose-driven risk. What were the benefits of doing so?
Identify a time when you “played it safe” as opposed to taking a purpose-driven risk. Why did you choose to “play it safe?”
Identify one of your idols:
What decisions did they have to make that seemed "crazy" at some point?
What purpose-driven risk did they have to take?
What would have happened if they hadn't taken that risk?
What happened because they took that risk?
What does your ideal future look like, smell like, taste like, sound like, feel like?
Discussion
Mindset Mastery
Try to describe to someone the difference between a prevention and a promotion mindset
Try to describe why having a promotion mindset is so beneficial and why having a prevention mindset can be so detrimental.
Mindset awakening
When was an instance where you or your team had a prevention mindset and how it affected you personally and the broader group?
When was an instance where you or your team had a promotion mindset and how it affected you personally and the broader group?
How much do we prioritize avoiding problems? Why?
When are times that we are the most prevention/promotion-minded?
Are we more comfort-focused or more purpose-focused?
What happens when a problem occurs? How do we “react” to it?
What is our destination? How do we know when we are making progress toward it?
What is our purpose?
When we work with our customers, are we more focused on getting things “right” or on adding value?
Is there any evidence that we have any of the following fears?
Fear of:
Having problems
Making mistakes
Losing
Discomfort
Not hitting results
Not hitting benchmarks
Not being the best
Dropping the ball
While these fears may be protecting us in some way, how are they holding us back?
Self-talk
Am I being prevention- or promotion-minded?
Am I being comfort-focused or purpose-focused?
I am open to unlimited possibilities
I have the power to get it done
I can take on the winds and currents of the sea to get to my destination
I am capable of navigating the unknown
Focus on customers more than vendors; smiles more than frowns; possibilities more than risks; options more than commitments; vacations more than overtime; detours more than setbacks; opportunities more than obstacles; and Goldilocks more than the bears
