Poker Scandal

 As a young man I was extremely interested in the game of poker. While I do not really play anymore, I still follow the poker scene on YouTube. Poker is presently going through a scandal in which one of the best players is accusing another player of cheating. 

What I found interesting is that both sides of this issue are convinced that they are right. On Twitter, some people said that there was definitely cheating, while others said that none occurred. Both sides kept doubling down in response to the others’ arguments. 

One of the biggest mistakes everyone makes: We try to change the other person’s mind.  Psychologist Adam Grant suggests that instead of trying to change someone’s mind, we try to open it. One of the questions he suggests asking is, “What facts do you need to change your mind on this issue?” This request does not put the person on the defensive but instead allows them to think about what might change their mind. 

Grant also did some research on political hot-buttons. When talking about the abortion issue, he asked people to reflect on their life as if they had the opposite view. While this did not change people's opinions, it allowed them too see that there were different perspectives to the issue. 

We often put a negative connotation on people who change their minds, calling them flip-floppers. However, I would argue that we should applaud them, because they have shown the ability to learn by taking current information into account 

In the future, when you notice a person has changed their opinion due to additional information, take a moment to congratulate them. What they have shown is the ability to be flexible and to learn.