Good Leaders Are Willing To Change Their Mind

One of the more concerning dynamics of the “everything is on the record all the time” world is that changing your mind – especially in a highly public way – has become SIN NUMBER ONE.

If a politician or business leader evolves in their understanding of a topic, we call them a flip flopper. If someone alters their once-fierce perspective in light of newfound information, we call them a hypocrite or a traitor.

However, one of the most crucial roles of the leader is to be a learner, and it is impossible to learn without being shaped and changed in some way. To be shaped, you have to open yourself to the idea that you don’t know everything, and that your present ideas could be incorrect, or at least incomplete.

I would even go so far as to say that if you’ve not changed your mind about something in the past few years, you may be less than intellectually honest or lacking curiosity. Fossilizing around your hypotheses is a lazy way to approach life and work, and in the end it will result in a compromised body of work.

I have changed my mind about a lot of things over the past decade, and my thinking is currently evolving on many others. This isn’t because I’m abandoning who I am, it’s because I’m trying to be unafraid to be wrong.

The fear of being wrong prevents many people from seeking the truth, in any sphere. We equate our ideas and positions with our worth as a human being, and when our ideas are challenged it feels like a personal attack.

Good leaders are willing to change their mind when proven wrong.

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Leaders, I ask you: are you allowing your ideas to evolve over time? Are you willing to adapt as your thoughts are proven incomplete or inadequate?

Don’t allow ego to rob you of your contribution. Stay flexible, stay curious, and be intellectually honest. These are the traits of an effective leader.

Todd Henry

Positioning himself as an “arms dealer for the creative revolution”, Todd Henry teaches leaders and organizations how to establish practices that lead to everyday brilliance. He is the author of five books (The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Louder Than Words, Herding Tigers, The Motivation Code) which have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and he speaks and consults across dozens of industries on creativity, leadership, and passion for work.

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11 Comments

Trent Dye on March 24, 2015 at 12:32 pm

Todd- This is great! I am ordering the book today!
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- Todd Henry on March 24, 2015 at 2:07 pm
  
  Thank you, Trent.
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Bill Pence on March 25, 2015 at 6:47 am

Excellent article. A good leader has to be humble enough to change their mind. Thanks much.
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Christopher Grigsby on March 25, 2015 at 8:40 am

The ” Ego ” gets in the way so many times and in so many ways! I’m sharing with every Leader I know.
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- Todd Henry on March 30, 2015 at 11:47 pm
  
  Thanks, Chris! Great to see you here. Hope all is well in your world.
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Carey Goryl on March 27, 2015 at 1:59 pm

I couldn’t agree more. In leadership, while it’s a luxury to have all the facts, it’s also near impossible. Decisions must still be made. And as new information presents itself, leaders must evaluate past decisions. To not would be irresponsible and reckless. We make decisions and form opinions with the information we have on hand. Be more afraid of what you lose by not changing your mind every now and then.
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- Todd Henry on March 30, 2015 at 11:49 pm
  
  Yes! Total visibility is almost impossible to achieve. You’re always operating on semi-complete information, even in the best of circumstances. I agree that this necessitates a willingness to change course when new info comes on-line. Thanks for your thoughts, Carey!
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Ted Whetstone on March 27, 2015 at 5:35 pm

That doesn’t make any sense. . . no, wait, that’s brilliant! Couldn’t agree more! Love it.
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- Todd Henry on March 30, 2015 at 11:46 pm
  
  Ha!
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Mark N Bair on March 27, 2015 at 9:45 pm

I agree. I think that every leader and politician should learn the following sentence, “I have learned a new and better way to…”
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- Todd Henry on March 30, 2015 at 11:47 pm
  
  Agreed, Mark. That’s one thing I’m committing myself to over the coming year.
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