For Christmas I received the book Think Again by organizational psychologist Adam Grant. The book explores the concept of mental flexibility and the importance for people in a rapidly changing world to get better at unlearning and rethinking. 

As an educator, I looked for ways to integrate some of Grant’s ideas into my teaching practice. One idea that immediately resonated with me was motivational interviewing – persuasion based not on lecturing or preaching, but on these three techniques:

• asking open-ended questions
• reflective listening 
• affirming the other person’s desire and ability to change

These techniques really spoke to me because I have been struggling lately with how to work with middle school students with some pretty off-putting and pessimistic perspectives about issues such as gender equality, LGBTQ rights, migration, the wealth gap. A number of my students have made surprising comments such as “Being gay is a choice!”, or “What’s poverty?”, or “Women have more rights than men!” Too many of the ideas shared in my class discussions reflect the agendas of cringey social media influencers and personalities.

My attempts to combat these ideas have been a spectacular failure. Adam Grant’s book helped me understand why. 

When we attempt to persuade others to change their views, Grant says we too often adopt one or more of the following mindsets:

• preacher (“Listen to me because I am right!”)
• prosecutor (“Listen to me because you are wrong!”)
• politician (“Listen to me because we are right and they are wrong!”)

Instead, Grant advocates a different mindset: the scientist. The scientist operates from the belief that we might actually be wrong. So, we need to be humble and curious, instead of proud and confrontational. 

Grant provides this flowchart to show how a motivational interview would work:

When school resumes next week, I plan to try this technique with my students. It will be a challenge letting go of the notion that I alone possess the necessary knowledge, expertise, and experience in the classroom and that students must, therefore, accept my advice without question. I must think again and evolve from being the leader to being a guide. 

Wish me luck!

Ed X!