The Power of Thinking Like a Scientist: Lessons from Organizational Psychologist Adam Grant

Adam Grant, a professor of organizational psychology at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of the bestselling “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know,” is urging leaders to embrace change and adopt a scientific mindset in their decision-making processes. As the world continues to adapt to new modes of work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Grant argues that organizations that fail to recalibrate their thinking risk being left behind.

One of the biggest obstacles to building strong workplaces, according to Grant, is the failure to recognize that every opinion is a hypothesis waiting to be tested, and every decision is an experiment waiting to be run. Too many leaders are content to make decisions without exploring other possibilities, or assume that their decisions are permanent rather than subject to revision and improvement.

Grant points to the missed opportunity of a remote-Friday experiment, which he pitched to CEOs in 2018, as an example of how leaders can be resistant to change. The fear of opening Pandora’s box and losing control can prevent organizations from taking calculated risks and experimenting with new approaches to work.

As for the future of work, Grant believes that hybrid structures will continue to be popular, as data shows that people are more likely to stay in such arrangements. While in-person collaboration and mentoring can be beneficial, the flexibility and autonomy offered by hybrid work can also boost motivation and performance. However, organizations must be mindful of the coordination costs and goal clarity issues that can arise in a distributed environment.

Ultimately, Grant argues that organizations must learn to connect the dots between individual work and collective purpose to foster a sense of belonging and motivation. By adopting a scientific mindset and testing hypotheses, leaders can identify what works best for their teams and adapt to new circumstances with greater agility. As the world continues to evolve, the power of thinking like a scientist may be the key to success in the workplace.