Review by Erika Siebring
Now I know I have heard this phrase due to my current status as a college student, but I’m sure other people have heard it: “I do my best work when I’m procrastinating.” I haven’t ever actively used this phrase (though I have noticed some of my best essay ideas coming a few days before the deadline) but I have for sure heard other people use it. And I always ask myself: “Is that true, or are you just compensating for the fact that you started this late?”
Of course that is a bit hypocritical as I have had my fair share of procrastination. However, I’d like to introduce you to Adam Grant and his views on the subject.
Grant held a TEDTalk in February 2016 entitled “The surprising habits of original thinkers,” in which he recounts how he failed to invest in an eventually-successful company because he felt the originators were unprepared. Grant goes on to explain how original thinkers are earmarked by a few different things: procrastination, doubt and ideas.
After following through with several studies, Grant’s data indicated that those who get a head start on assignments early (a pre-crastinator, as Grant calls himself) and those who wait until the last possible minute (heavy procrastinators) perform worse than those who moderately procrastinate. The most creative thinkers fit into that middle category, where the desire to do things at a later date is at a “healthy” amount as opposed to a “destructive” amount. This actually makes a lot of sense.
Grant also goes onto say how those who deviate from the norm — those who improve on pre-existing ideas but making it better — have more success. Why? Why is it, ironically, that those who improve on other’s ideas have more success than “original” ideas? Well, it’s actually kind of funny. The goal here is to take a concept (in his TEDTalk Gant uses Internet Explorer and Safari), find out its weaknesses, and make a new product that is different and better overall for the consumer (i.e. Google Chrome). Why? Because those who do that”doubt the default” and ask if something can be improved and offer more options. Why do we have so many food delivery apps? Or weight loss apps? There once existed the first of its’ kind before other people wanted more — so they made more.
How, having said that, there is an important theory here aside from just “I can be successful improving on what already exists,” which revolves around the concept of generating new ideas. The third and arguably most important thing Grant point out in his TEDTalk is that in order to be truly creative and truly original, one must not be afraid to share their ideas. It is very likely someone will not share their ideas out of fear of being embarrassed or socially humiliated. But, that can’t stop the rise of new ideas. That in itself is the essence of democracy and free speech. Sharing and embracing new ideas is key to the rise and spread of creativity.
Reference: “The surprising habits of original thinkers,” TEDTalk
Presenter: Adam Grant
Presenter Bio: Adam Grant has been Wharton’s top-rated teacher for four straight years. He has been recognized as one of the world’s 25 most influential management thinkers and the world’s top 40 business professors under 40.
Adam is the author of two New York Times bestselling books translated into 34 languages. Originals explores how individuals champion new ideas and leaders fight groupthink; it is a #1 national bestseller and one of Amazon’s best books of February 2016. Give and Take examines why helping others drives our success, and was named one of the best books of 2013 by Amazon, Apple, the Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal–as well as one of Oprah’s riveting reads and Harvard Business Review’s ideas that shaped management.
As a contributing writer on work and psychology for the New York Times, Adam’s op-eds on raising a moral child and a creative child have each been shared over 300,000 times on social media. His research focuses on generosity, motivation and meaningful work, championing new ideas, personality traits like introversion, and leadership, collaboration, culture, and organizational change. His studies have been highlighted in David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell, Drive by Dan Pink, Quiet by Susan Cain, and Thrive by Arianna Huffington.
Adam is a member of the Lean In board, the founder of the Authors@Wharton series, and the co-director of Wharton People Analytics. He has received the Excellence in Teaching award for every class he has taught. He earned his Ph.D. in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan, completing it in less than three years, and his B.A. from Harvard University, magna cum laude with highest honors and Phi Beta Kappa honors. He is a former magician and junior Olympic springboard diver.