Humility Is the New Smart

1. The Smart Machine Age demands a new definition of "smart"

NewSmart is a new definition of human smart that reflects the increasing cognitive capabilities of smart machines and is measured not by quantity—how much you know—but by the quality of your thinking, learning, and emotionally engaging with others.

Redefining intelligence. In the Smart Machine Age (SMA), machines will surpass humans in processing, remembering, and synthesizing information. To remain relevant, humans must excel at critical thinking, innovative thinking, creativity, and high emotional engagement – skills that complement technology or that technology cannot yet replicate.

Embracing NewSmart. This new paradigm of intelligence, called NewSmart, focuses on:

• Quality of thinking, not quantity of knowledge
• Ability to learn and adapt rapidly
• Emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills
• Embracing mistakes as learning opportunities
• Treating beliefs as hypotheses to be tested

Overcoming cognitive biases. Humans must recognize and mitigate their natural tendencies towards:

• Confirmation bias
• Emotional defensiveness
• Reflexive thinking
• Fear of failure and uncertainty

2. Humility is the gateway to human excellence in the SMA

We define Humility as a mindset about oneself that is open-minded, self-accurate, and "not all about me," and that enables one to embrace the world as it "is" in the pursuit of human excellence.

Redefining humility. Contrary to common perceptions, humility is not about being meek or subdued. In the context of the SMA, humility is:

• An intellectual strength
• A cornerstone of critical thinking
• Essential for open-mindedness and continuous learning

Benefits of humility. Embracing humility enables individuals to:

• Acknowledge their limitations and seek help from others
• Be open to new ideas and perspectives
• Keep achievements in perspective
• Focus less on self and more on understanding others
• Adapt more easily to changing environments

Humility in practice. Organizations like Google, Pixar, and the US Navy SEALs have recognized the value of humility in fostering innovation, collaboration, and high performance. They actively seek individuals who demonstrate intellectual humility and the ability to learn from mistakes.

3. Quieting ego enables higher-level thinking and emotional engagement

Quieting Ego is how we can deliberately work to reduce our reflexive emotional defensiveness; have empathy and open-mindedness; engage in Reflective Listening; and proactively seek other people's feedback and perspectives to stress-test our own thinking.

Mindfulness practices. Quieting ego often involves mindfulness techniques, which help individuals:

• Pay attention to the present moment without judgment
• Recognize thoughts and emotions without being controlled by them
• Enhance cognitive function and emotional regulation

Benefits of a quiet ego:

• Improved focus and attention
• Enhanced ability to consider multiple perspectives
• Reduced emotional reactivity
• Increased empathy and understanding of others
• Better collaboration and relationship-building skills

Practical strategies. To quiet the ego:

• Practice daily mindfulness meditation
• Cultivate gratitude
• Use reminders to stay present and humble
• Seek feedback and different viewpoints actively
• Reframe situations to reduce emotional defensiveness

4. Managing self: Mastering thoughts and emotions is crucial

Managing Self—our emotions and thinking—aids us in engaging in the higher-level thinking and behavior required by SMA Skills.

Cognitive management. Develop a "thinking toolbox" that includes:

• Critical thinking processes
• Problem-solving frameworks
• Decision-making tools (e.g., PreMortem, After-Action Review)
• Creativity and innovation techniques

Emotional intelligence. Enhance your ability to:

• Recognize and label emotions in yourself and others
• Understand the causes and consequences of emotions
• Regulate emotions effectively
• Use emotions to facilitate thinking and decision-making

Practical techniques:

• Practice psychological distancing
• Reframe negative situations
• Use positive memories to counter negative emotions
• Engage in positive self-talk
• Develop "if-then" implementation plans for emotional challenges

5. Reflective listening is essential for collaboration and innovation

Reflective Listening is so important because it underlies all the SMA Skills. Why? Because your thinking and learning are limited by cognitive biases, emotional defensiveness, ego, and fear.

Key elements of reflective listening:

• Focus entirely on the speaker without interrupting
• Seek to understand before responding
• Ask clarifying questions
• Paraphrase and summarize to confirm understanding
• "Try on" the speaker's ideas before evaluating them

Benefits of reflective listening:

• Enhances collaboration and teamwork
• Fosters innovation by considering diverse perspectives
• Builds trust and strengthens relationships
• Improves problem-solving and decision-making
• Reduces misunderstandings and conflicts

Practical strategies:

• Practice mindfulness to stay present during conversations
• Use a pre-listening checklist to prepare mentally
• Focus on asking questions rather than making statements
• Reflect on your listening performance after each interaction

6. Otherness: Connecting emotionally with others drives success

By now, we hope that you understand how important it is to seek the help of others to thrive in the SMA. We need others because we can't think, innovate, or relate at our best alone.

Building meaningful connections. To excel in the SMA, focus on:

• Being present and genuine in interactions
• Communicating affirmation and support
• Demonstrating empathy and understanding
• Fostering trust through vulnerability and authenticity

Benefits of emotional connection:

• Enhanced collaboration and teamwork
• Increased creativity and innovation
• Improved problem-solving capabilities
• Higher job satisfaction and engagement
• Better customer relationships and service

Practical techniques:

• Practice active listening and empathy
• Show genuine interest in others' perspectives
• Use positive language and body language
• Cultivate a culture of mutual support and appreciation
• Regularly check in with colleagues on a personal level

7. Creating a NewSmart organization fosters human excellence

We believe that the organization of the future will need to be a people-centric, hyperlearning organization that fuses the best technologies and the best human learners to excel at innovating to meet the needs of its stakeholders.

Key elements of a NewSmart organization:

• People-centric culture
• Continuous learning and development focus
• Emphasis on collaboration over competition
• Psychological safety for risk-taking and innovation
• Leadership that models humility and continuous improvement

Organizational practices:

• Design work environments that promote positivity
• Meet employees' self-determination needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness)
• Implement processes that drive critical thinking and innovation
• Provide regular feedback and opportunities for growth
• Measure and reward behaviors that align with NewSmart principles

Benefits of NewSmart organizations:

• Increased adaptability to technological changes
• Higher employee engagement and retention
• Enhanced innovation and problem-solving capabilities
• Improved customer satisfaction and market performance
• Sustainable competitive advantage through continuous learning and improvement

Human Verification: I am a real human and this is my original work, not copied from anywhere else.

Last updated: August 8, 2024