Back to Blogs
For Omnitech's last book club of 2022, we read Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant. Adam Grant has been an organizational psychologist for over 20 years and is a bestselling author. Adam Grant's story-telling abilities and observations aren't new to Omnitech. In 2016, we explored Give and Take for several weeks, and it is still referenced in discussions today. Think Again has proven to be another insightful and impactful read and spurred lively and engaged conversations within our group.
Think Again encourages us to adopt the mode of scientist when dealing with thoughts and opinions. Adam tells us stories of how people have been able to rethink their long-held beliefs to help others strengthen bonds, bridge gaps, abandon hate and even save lives.
Adam's big takeaway is that we don't have to be captive to our long-held and sometimes misguided beliefs just for posterity's sake. When we look at life through the lens of a scientist, we can embrace the joy of being wrong and rethink what we value without the stigma of looking foolish or wishy-washy.
Adam's references to pop culture classics like Seinfeld and modern-day moguls like Jeff Bezos, along with his imagery and ability to relate to everyday work life, make his stories relatable while instilling lessons on how to rethink narratives. His humor and candor are sprinkled throughout the book, and the team engaged in some lively banter on a few of his topics.
At the end of the book, Adam gives us Actions for Impact. In this section, Adam provides takeaways to improve our rethinking process. There are 30 practical items on his list, which seems like a lot, so we will focus on a couple that are important to Omnitech.
1) Ask Questions - our business is to get customers the right solutions for their software needs. We are constantly asking questions to hone those requirements. Adam gives us pointers on asking more detailed, scientifically-based questions to get the root of the answer.
2) Create Learning Organizations – Consistently review best practices so that teams don't become complacent in their continual improvement. Most importantly, create psychological safety so that team members can openly question and challenge the status quo without fear of reprise or retaliation.
If you are interested in learning more about Adam Grant, his books, and his life, sign up for his newsletter here: Adam Grant – Books, Podcast, TED Talks, Newsletter, Articles
Omnitech's book club process has matured significantly since 2016, but there's always room for growth and change, as evidenced in this book! We look forward to what 2023 will bring us and what Adam Grant has in store for his next book.
