Three Tips from Adam Grant on Rethinking

Adam Grant authored a marvelous book, Think Again. In the appendix he shares tips for better thinking, an executive summary.

Use these three tips to 'unlearn and rethink'. They serve you well at home, school, and sports.

1. "Think like a scientist." (Or like a detective...)

Resist the temptation to preach, to prosecute, or politick when promoting ideas. Newton North's volleyball program, SMASH, teaches 'intentional' hitting, emphasizing power and then adding direction and strategy. That's carried them to the upper echelon of Division 1 powers. 

Ask whether that's the best way or their way. 

2. Define your identity with values, not opinions. 

Communication can be opinion-driven or values-driven. In the Navy, we carried out investigations with a format:

- Facts - the who, when, what, how, why, and where.

- Opinions - this 'evolution' happened as a result of these circumstances.

- Recommendations - the actions or treatments did or did not follow protocols or standards. Possible remedies included the following... 

When senior officers would inform me of their opinion, I worked to understand how Navy values meshed with their opinions. A fellow physician told me about having to relieve a ship's Captain of his duties for cause. The individual's habits risked compromising the safety and well-being of the ship. Values drove action, not his opinion. 

3. Seek disconfirming evidence.

Am I wrong? Is there expert information on the subject? Form a hypothesis, seek experimentation, and decide what is true. For example, are safe serves or aggressive serves preferred? 

Confirmation bias is our use of information or readings that reinforce our opinion, as opposed to challenging it. If we only expose ourselves to 'more of the same' we can harden incorrect beliefs. 

Here's an AI take: 

In volleyball, both hard serves and safe serves have their advantages depending on the situation and the player's skill level. Here's a breakdown of the advantages of each type of serve:

Hard Serves:

1. Difficulty in Reception: Hard serves are powerful and fast, making them challenging to receive for the opposing team. They can put pressure on the receiver and potentially disrupt their passing accuracy.
2. Potential for Aces: Hard serves that are well-placed and difficult to return can result in aces, which means the ball hits the ground untouched by the receiving team. Aces earn points directly without giving the opponent an opportunity to attack.
3. Offensive Advantage: Hard serves can force the opposing team to play defensively, limiting their ability to set up an effective attack. This can give your team an advantage by disrupting their rhythm and preventing them from executing their desired offensive strategies.

Safe Serves:

1. Consistency: Safe serves, such as float serves or short serves, are aimed at minimizing errors and keeping the ball in play. They have a higher success rate in landing inbounds, reducing the risk of serving errors like serving out of bounds or into the net.
2. Strategic Placement: Safe serves can be targeted to specific areas on the court, such as serving to a weaker passer or exploiting a gap in the defense. By placing the serve accurately, you can limit the opposing team's options and force them into a less effective offensive play.
3. Set-Up Play: Safe serves can set up your team's defense by forcing the opposing team to pass predictably, making it easier for your teammates to read and anticipate their next move. This can lead to better defensive positioning and more effective blocking.

Ultimately, the choice between hard serves and safe serves depends on the player's skill level, the specific situation in the game, and the team's overall strategy. Skilled servers often incorporate a mix of both types to keep the opposing team off-balance and maximize their effectiveness on the court.

I have a bias, but what matters is what your coaches want based on their training and experience.

Lagniappe. Defensive details from a Team Canada libero