Think Again: 2: Armchair Quarterback vs Imposter Syndrome

Today I read the 2nd chapter in Adam Grant’s book “Think Again”.

• We all have blind spots in our knowledge and opinions
• Armchair Quarterback is Confidence>Expertise.
• Imposter Syndrome is Confidence<Expertise.
• Those who can’t, don’t know they can’t. They lack competence and are brimming with over confidence.
• The less intelligent we are the more we overestimate our actual intelligence. We feign knowledge about certain topics.
• We lack the ability to think about our thinking.
• We we lack knowledge and skills to achieve excellence, we sometimes lack the knowledge and skills to judge excellence.
• We need humility not arrogance.
• Humility is “from the earth”. It’s about recognizing we are flawed and fallible.
• Confidence is a measure of how much you believe in yourself vs your methods.
• Confident Humility — Having faith in our capability while appreciating we may not have the right solution or addressing the right problem.
• Try to underestimate yourself.
• Doubts have 3 benefits. 1. Increases your motivation to work harder. 2. Increases your motivation to work smarter. 3. Helps you become a better learner.
• View doubt as a cue to improve your tools while having confidence that you can learn.
• Knowledge is best learn from experts but creativity and wisdom can be learned from anyone.
• Commit to improving myself.
• Marvel at what I still don’t know.
• Learn something from anyone I meet.
• Humility helps me see clearly.
• Confident humility enables me to overcome weaknesses.