What do you get when you combine low knowledge with high confidence? A phenomenon known as the Dunning-Kruger Effect or “toxic confidence.”
Researchers have found that individuals who score low in logic and competence often score high in confidence about what they think they know.
Think Again author, Adam Grant, calls this perilous position “the peak of Mount Stupid” and offers sound advice to find your way back to solid ground.
In one study on the Dunning-Kruger effect, poorly performing physicians rated themselves around 40% more competent than their peers and were much less likely to accept that they’d made mistakes. Furthermore, they lacked the self-awareness necessary to grow from the experience, which only perpetuated their state of “toxic confidence.”
In short, if you’re suffering from Dunning-Kruger, chances are you don’t realize it. So, whether or not you think you need to do some self-reflection, ask yourself the following questions to avoid ending up on the peak of Mount Stupid:
You might be susceptible to toxic confidence if you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions (don’t worry, most people do). So keep reading to find safer ground!
Grant calls the path down from Mount Stupid the “Slope of Enlightenment.” This safe passage asks travelers to practice “confident humility.” Humility tempers confidence with an openness to new experiences, new information, and the possibility of being wrong.
When you find the slope of enlightenment and embrace confident humility, you feel secure in your abilities to learn and succeed. You also recognize your limits, the benefits of owning up to mistakes, and the value of asking for help. Use the following strategies to find the Slope of Enlightenment:
The peak of Mount Stupid is high confidence paired with low knowledge. What do you get when you flip the script and pair low confidence with high knowledge? Imposter syndrome or, as Grant calls it, the “Valley of Despair.”
If you suffer from imposter syndrome, you probably hold yourself back from contributing to conversations, offering expertise, or solving problems. Unfortunately, this “toxic humility” hampers your ability to succeed as much as the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Thankfully, the slope of enlightenment is also the answer to imposter syndrome. Take time to reflect, challenge your beliefs, and ask for and accept feedback about your abilities. Then press forward with a confident humility that acknowledges and honors your skills and contributions.
Do you have any tips for safely descending “Mount Stupid” or ascending the “Valley of Despair”? Share them with us on Twitter using #ThinkAgain.
Noelle is a content creator, author, and editor. She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not writing, she's either reading a good book or scaring herself with true-crime documentaries.
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