Kelli VanSetters

Confirmation bias is twisting the facts to fit your beliefs. Critical thinking is bending your beliefs to fit the facts. Seeking the truth is not about validating the story in your head. It's about rigorously vetting and accepting the story that matches the reality in the world.

Insecure arrogance: "I have all the answers. Only I can fix it." Confident humility: "I have many questions. We need to study what broke it." The people to trust are not the ones who project the most confidence. They’re the ones who know the limits of their competence.

Precedent is a poor reason for decisions. It calcifies the status quo without a compelling rationale. It doesn’t matter how long a tradition has stood. If the old way is wrong, it should be challenged and changed. Progress lies in improving the future, not defending the past.

Bad leaders see power as an opportunity. Good leaders see it as a responsibility. Framing power as a responsibility can discourage leaders from being selfish, making risky decisions, and ignoring advice. It's time to teach people that power is for service, not self-interest.

It isn't always best to speak up right away. Strategic silence can amplify your voice. Evidence: people are more likely to be heard when they wait until (a) the issue is relevant, (b) they’re ready, and (c) the audience is responsive. Fools rush in. Wise people bide their time.

If you don't have all the facts yet, you shouldn't have a strong opinion yet. Motivated reasoning is believing what you want to be true. Critical thinking depends on wanting to believe whatever ends up being true. A key to learning is refusing to let your hopes bias your views.

Impostor syndrome isn't a disease. It's a normal response to internalizing impossibly high standards. Doubting yourself doesn't mean you're going to fail. It usually means you're facing a new challenge and you're going to learn. Feeling uncertainty is a precursor to growth.