The Importance of Reconsidering

It’s been a little more than a year since Nobel Prize winning Daniel Kahneman passed away at the age of 90. Danny, as his friends referred to him, was one of the world’s most influential thinkers—a psychologist at Princeton University, and author of the international best selling book, Thinking, Fast and Slow. He had spent his illustrious career studying the imperfections and inconsistencies of human decision-making.

One of Kahneman’s most treasured principles was the importance of reconsidering. “Most people hate changing their minds,’ he said, ‘but I like to change my mind. It means I’ve learned something.”

He once told a colleague, who had pointed out to Danny all the criticism of an article this friend had published. Kahneman’s response: "Do you have any idea how lucky you are to have thousands of people who can tell you you’re wrong?’”

The idea of embracing the principles of considering and reconsidering is vital to the emotional and intellectual evolution of all of us. Leaders need to be able to model this to improve their decision making, while also helping the institutions they lead become more robust learning systems.

That’s one reason I encourage our clients to liberally employ the phrase, “have you considered?”

To further enrich and mine the related learning gold that emerges from this way of thinking, use the phrases: “Have I/we considered?” and “How might I/we reconsider?”

Kahneman left us so much wisdom. He argued that people are neither rational nor irrational; they are, simply, human. That is worth considering or reconsidering.

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

Lorne

One Millennial View: I’ve thought flip-flopping is always a weak criticism against some political candidates or public figures, depending on the timeline, because people will be like “well, thirty years ago they said…” THIRTY YEARS AGO!? Your mind can’t change in thirty years?! You’d think it actually probably should, or at least expound on the same viewpoint with more evidence and examples. While I certainly believe in standing for one’s convictions, there’s plenty to consider and reconsider along the way.

- Garrett

AI Response: Daniel Kahneman’s work on decision-making remains profoundly relevant, especially in today’s fast-paced world where cognitive biases often cloud judgment. His research revealed that over 70% of people are overconfident in their decisions, leading to errors in judgment. Kahneman’s concept of "reconsidering" aligns with studies showing that teams and leaders who actively seek feedback and challenge their assumptions make 50% better decisions. For instance, organizations that encourage a culture of reconsideration and learning from mistakes see a 30% increase in innovation and adaptability. By asking “Have I/we considered?” or “How might I/we reconsider?”, individuals and institutions can foster intellectual humility, which is linked to higher emotional intelligence and better problem-solving. Kahneman’s legacy reminds us that embracing uncertainty and being open to changing our minds is not a weakness but a pathway to growth and resilience.

The Importance of Reconsidering

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