Adam Grant is one of the authors I follow closely. When I read his book ‘Think Again’, I was inspired to connect his idea of the scientist mindset with my own role as a coach.
Grant describes four ways of thinking:
* The “Preacher” mindset focuses on protecting and promoting our existing beliefs.
* The “Prosecutor” mindset focuses on finding flaws in other people’s arguments in order to win a case.
* The “Politician” mindset focuses on seeking the approval of an audience rather than discovering the truth.
* The “Scientist” mindset focuses on searching for the truth and treating ideas as hypotheses to be tested.
The first three mindsets are ones I intentionally work to avoid in coaching, as they may show up in subtle but unhelpful ways:
– Preaching my own point of view or offering solutions too quickly.
– Cross-examining a client to prove a point.
– Trying to be liked and avoiding necessary challenge.
The scientist mindset reminds me to treat both my client’s stories and my own assumptions as hypotheses we can explore together, rather than conclusions that must be defended.
HOW I SEE MY ROLE AS A COACH
There are many ways to describe a coach: a thinking partner, a mirror that reflects what is present, or a co-explorer walking alongside the client. At the center of all these metaphors is the importance of trust. A client must feel safe enough to open up, reflect honestly, and experiment with new ways of thinking.
In practice, this means:
– Recognizing that the client is the expert in their own situation and capable of finding their own solutions.
– Providing a clear coaching process and a safe container, rather than answers.
– Remaining nonjudgmental and genuinely curious about the client’s experience.
– Seeking to understand the situation primarily from the client’s point of view.
Approaching coaching with a scientist mindset strengthens this stance. I am not there to defend my ideas or to win debates. I am there to observe carefully, stay open, and be willing to revise my initial impressions.
APPLYING THE RETHINKING CYCLE TO COACHING
When I reflect on what Grant calls the ‘Rethinking Cycle’ through the lens of my coaching experience, several insights stand out.
Intellectual Humility acknowledges that there are things I do not know. As a coach, I offer the process, while the client remains the true expert in their life. Humility shows up when I:
– Let go of the need to be the “smartest person in the room.”
– Quietly acknowledge, “I might be missing something important here.”
– Adjust my approach to better serve the client’s desired outcome.
In this context, Doubt is not about questioning my worth as a coach. It is about questioning my assumptions, interpretations, and habitual coaching moves. I ask myself:
– “What story am I telling myself about this client?”
– “Am I slipping into preacher, prosecutor, or politician mode right now?”
– “What if I’m wrong about what this client needs from me in this moment?”
This type of doubt prevents me from jumping too quickly to interpretation, advice, or familiar tools.
Curiosity seeks new information to resolve doubt. In coaching, curiosity helps clients become aware of the beliefs and assumptions that may be limiting them. It shows up when I:
– Ask open questions instead of leading ones.
– Invite alternative perspectives: “What else could be true?”
– Stay curious about my own reactions: “What made me want to interrupt just now?”
There is curiosity about the client and curiosity about myself as a coach—both are essential to a scientist mindset.
Discovery involves updating my views based on what emerges. In coaching, my role is to support clients in making their own discoveries, which may lead them to update their beliefs and choose new directions. At the same time, I am continually updating my understanding of the client and refining my own practice.
One simple question I could use is:
“What feels different for you now compared to when we started this conversation?”
This invites the client to name their discoveries while reminding me that, as a scientist, I am here to learn as well.
BECOMING A BETTER COACH WITH A SCIENTIST MINDSET
These reflections have led me to a simple personal practice. Before each session, I ask myself, “How can I show up as a scientist today?” During and after the session, I notice moments when I may have slipped into preacher, prosecutor, or politician mode, and I reflect on how I might work differently next time.
Coaching with a scientist mindset grounds me in humility, doubt, curiosity, and discovery. It honors the client as the expert in their own life and supports my ongoing growth as a coach.
