Adam Grant: The surprising habits of original thinkers
Before you watch
Organizational psychologist Adam Grant studies «originals»: thinkers who dream up new ideas and take action to put them into the world. Grant’s new book “Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World” examines how unconventional thinkers overturn the status quo and champion game-changing ideas.
Vocabulary notes:
Procrastinator — someone who delays or postpones action, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness
Minesweeper — a single-player puzzle video game
While you watch
While watching, pay attention to the following words and expressions in context. Use them in your answers to the questions below and discussion.
- on the surface / behind the scenes
- self-doubt / idea-doubt
- energizing / paralyzing
- to outperform
- technical advantage
- to accept the default option / to doubt the default
After you watch
Answer the questions:
- Why is it Adam’s wife who deals with their investments now?
- How does Adam define originals?
- What are the main characteristics of a ‘prEcrastinator’?
- What kind of experiment was conducted to find out the effect of procrastination on original thinking?
- What great original thinkers were also known as ‘great’ procrastinators? How did procrastination affect their most outstanding works?
- What two types of doubt does Adam identify?
- How can one’s choice of a browser characterize a person?
- What kind of fear do original thinkers have? Is it constructive or destructive?
Listen to reproduce:
Listen to another part of the presentation (8:57 to 11:04) and try to reproduce what the speaker is saying about doubt and its link to your choice of a browser. Make use of the following word expressions (do your best to speak as close to the original text as possible):
Discuss in pairs:
- Comment on the statement: “Procrastinating is a vice when it comes
to productivity, but it can be a virtue for creativity.” Do you agree? Do you think procrastination
leads to success or may result in total failure? Can procrastinators become
leaders? - Are you a procrastinator? Do you perform better when
you have to meet tight deadlines or when the time limit is rather flexible? - Do you agree that fear and doubt may contribute to success? Is it doubt that drives leadership?
UST | Toolkit
01 | Positions
The two opposing claims students defend.
A: Effective diplomacy is built on persuasion rather than pressure.
B: Effective diplomacy requires firmness rather than accommodation.
02 | Argumentation Prompt
Develop two arguments to support your position. Provide reasoning and relevant examples. Anticipate the opposing side’s arguments and prepare rebuttals.
03 | Language Challenge
Use at least four expressions from the Vocabulary Bank. At least one expression should be used to challenge or rebut your opponent’s argument.
04 | Printable Worksheet
Download the Verbal Joust worksheet →