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It is often said that practice makes you a blacksmith. This proverb applies well to the business world, where professional experience is often more valued than skills. But supporters of “shoshin” believe that employees would sometimes benefit from behaving like beginners.
“Shoshin” is a Japanese term, from Zen Buddhist philosophy, which translates to “beginner’s mind”. It refers to the idea that one is a novice all one's life. “I like to think that shoshin is like opening your eyes for the very first time. It's a state where you are completely in the moment, absorbing what is there, now , without past experiences, contexts, presuppositions or prejudices,” explains Sarah Lloyd, life and career coach, to Stylist magazine.
Because we all have cognitive biases that limit us intellectually. Some people think they are better protected than others when it comes to these mental shortcuts, but they are wrong. They themselves are victims of a cognitive bias known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. This phenomenon, theorized in 1999, leads the most qualified people in a field to think they are better than others. They have a false idea of their knowledge and level of mastery, which can lead them to make rash decisions.
The concept of “shoshin” helps remedy this. It involves taking a more modest and humble intellectual posture. Indeed, the proverb states that to err is human. But we tend to forget it too much, especially in the professional sphere. In the world of work, many seek to be right at all costs. They do not hesitate to use weak, even fallacious, arguments to have the last word with their interlocutor.
Putting yourself in a position of learner, as the “shoshin” philosophy advises, allows you to calm your ego impulses and accept the fact that you don’t know everything. Several scientific studies have shown that this posture of modesty is very beneficial for those who adopt it. Intellectually humble individuals are, for example, more likely to make efforts to acquire new knowledge. Their persistence often allows them to achieve a significant degree of expertise on a variety of subjects, which makes them a real asset in a company.
But then, how to apply the philosophy of “shoshin” in your daily professional life? First of all, by working on your critical thinking. You should not hesitate to question your assumptions and intuitions to broaden the spectrum of possibilities. Going against the grain often gives rise to innovative ideas, even if it means taking the risk of being singled out in the event of failure. On the other hand, it is important to listen to challenge your knowledge and progress. Others have a lot to teach us: it would be a shame to deprive ourselves of their knowledge.