I was coaching a mechanical engineer, our first two sessions were awful. Not because of him. He wanted coaching. They were awful because I thought I needed to be a mechanical engineer, I was trying to be smart in a subject I knew absolutely nothing about.
After the second laboured session, I left his office having the realization, “I’m not suppose to know.” To paraphrase Malcolm Gladwell; my job isn’t to be a mechanical engineer it’s to be a NON-mechanical engineer so I can hear and alert him to the interesting things that he considers obvious or boring or irrelevant. Or is simply not aware of.
Equipped with my new “dumb” (naive, curious) mindset, our coaching sessions took off. They were rich in insight, profound moments and clear action steps needed for change.
When I “act” smart I stop listening for interesting new insights. I become beholden to my singular perspective. I focus on how the other person is wrong. I am arrogant.
Being naive requires a deliberate intention. And it’s a lot more difficult to remain naive (curious, “dumb”) on topics that I am emotionally invested in/knowledgeable in.
It’s a work-in-progress. But I can’t argue with the results, I am definitely smartest when I am dumb.
How would being naive make you smarter?