In this week's Paper Napkin Wisdom Weekly:
- TL:DR
- Paper Napkin Wisdom Preview
- The Courage to Pivot: Why Leaders Must Embrace Changing Their Minds
- Focus - Align - Act: The Leadership Advantage of Changing Your Mind
- Two Blueprints, Need One?
- Week in Review
- Let’s Grow This Together
TL;DR – The Power of the Pivot: Why (And How) Smart Leaders Change Their Minds
What do a flexible mindset, a scientific lens, and a bit of humility have in common?
They’re the core tools of every leader brave enough to pivot in public—and wise enough to know when to.
In the first post, we dive into why:
🧠 Our culture has become suspicious of changing your mind—even when the facts demand it.📉 Political rigidity has turned flexibility into a liability, not a leadership asset.
🔄 Leaders who adapt are not indecisive—they’re decisive with new information.
💡 Research shows that cognitive flexibility fuels better decisions, stronger teams, and smarter strategy.
The big idea?
Changing your mind isn’t flip-flopping—it’s future-proofing.
In the second post, we bring the Focus–Align–Act framework into play:
FOCUS on clarity over consistency—lead with curiosity, not ego.
ALIGN your culture to reward thoughtful change and reframe adaptability as strength.
ACT by running an assumption audit, inviting challenge, and modeling your own pivots.
Together, these posts call on you to stop defending your past—and start designing your next move.
Because legacy isn’t about being right from the start.
It’s about being real enough to grow.
Paper Napkin Wisdom Podcast Preview
This is the only place where we give you a sneak peek into what's coming up on Paper Napkin Wisdom. Remember to share this with anyone who needs to hear these messages.
Epsiode 236: Mark Rypien, the first Canadian-born quarterback to both start in the NFL and win Super Bowl MVP, leading Washington to victory in Super Bowl XXVI. His story is one of grit, resilience, and championship-caliber belief. He shares powerful insights about success and prepapration from his incredible journey.
Epsiode 237: Dr. Heidi Hanna, bestselling author and leading expert on stress mastery and brain health returns to Paper Napkin Wisdom! She helps individuals and organizations transform stress into a source of strength and performance. With clients ranging from Google to the NFL, her work blends science, strategy, and a dose of humor.
Episode 238: Jim Kaveney, entrepreneur and tech innovator, explores how curiosity and humility fuel game-changing leadership. In this episode, he reveals why the courage to change your mind might be your greatest competitive edge.
Episode 239: Darcel Dillard-Suite, a national speaker, executive life coach, and certified wellness and sports social work consultant.As co-founder and president of Full Circle Health, she leads initiatives that blend mental wellness with cultural sensitivity, offering holistic solutions to personal and professional challenges.
Episode 240: Borzou Azabdaftari, Founder and CEO of The Falcon Lab, shares how clarity, conviction, and creative risk-taking fuel entrepreneurial growth. We explore how leaders can align personal identity with bold action to unlock meaningful momentum. This episode is full of sharp insights you’ll want to revisit again and again.
Episode 241: Marina Byezhanova, co-founder of Brand of a Leader and a global advocate for radical authenticity, discusses how embracing your true self can amplify your leadership and personal brand.In this episode, she shares insights on building a legacy through genuine expression and the power of saying "yes" to transformative opportunities
Stay connected with Paper Napkin Wisdom on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify to be the first to hear these incredible episodes!
The Courage to Pivot: Why Leaders Must Embrace Changing Their Minds
In today’s polarized world, changing one’s mind—especially as a leader—is often seen as a weakness or a lack of conviction. Yet, the ability to reassess, adapt, and pivot in light of new information is not only a strength but a necessity for effective leadership. This blog explores the cultural aversion to changing our minds, the psychological underpinnings of this resistance, the implications in political leadership, and practical steps leaders can take to cultivate open-mindedness.
Cultural Resistance to Changing Our Minds
Recent years have seen a cultural shift where steadfastness is often equated with strength, and changing one’s mind is viewed with suspicion. This mindset is particularly prevalent in political and public spheres, where leaders fear being labeled as “flip-floppers” or indecisive. The perception that changing one’s stance indicates weakness discourages leaders from adapting to new information or evolving circumstances.
The Psychology Behind Our Resistance
Understanding why people resist changing their minds requires delving into cognitive psychology. Several factors contribute to this phenomenon:
- Confirmation Bias: This is our tendency to favor information that confirms our existing beliefs and to disregard evidence that contradicts them.
- Cognitive Dissonance: When confronted with information that challenges our beliefs, we experience psychological discomfort. To alleviate this discomfort, we often reject the new information or rationalize our existing beliefs.
- Status Quo Bias: People have an inherent preference for the current state of affairs and perceive changes as losses rather than gains, leading to resistance against new ideas.
These cognitive biases are deeply ingrained and can significantly impact decision-making processes, especially in leadership roles.
The Dangers of Inflexibility in Political Leadership
In politics, the reluctance to change one’s mind can have profound consequences. Leaders who rigidly adhere to their initial positions may ignore new evidence or changing circumstances, leading to policies that are out of touch with current realities. This inflexibility can erode public trust and hinder effective governance.
Moreover, the fear of being perceived as inconsistent can prevent politicians from making necessary policy shifts, even when such changes are in the public’s best interest. This dynamic contributes to political polarization and hampers the ability to reach consensus on critical issues.
Embracing Change: A Hallmark of Effective Leadership
Effective leaders recognize that adaptability is crucial in a rapidly changing world. Cognitive flexibility—the mental ability to switch between thinking about different concepts and to think about multiple concepts simultaneously—is a key trait that enables leaders to respond to new information and evolving situations effectively.
Leaders who demonstrate cognitive flexibility are better equipped to navigate uncertainty, make informed decisions, and inspire innovation within their organizations. They understand that changing one’s mind in response to new evidence is not a sign of weakness but a reflection of thoughtful and responsive leadership.
Practical Steps to Cultivate Open-Mindedness
To foster a culture of adaptability and continuous learning, leaders can take the following steps:
- Practice Active Listening: Engage with diverse perspectives and genuinely consider alternative viewpoints. This approach can uncover blind spots and lead to more comprehensive decision-making.
- Encourage a Learning Mindset: View mistakes and changes in direction as opportunities for growth rather than failures. This mindset promotes resilience and continuous improvement.
- Seek Constructive Feedback: Create an environment where team members feel comfortable providing honest feedback. Constructive criticism can offer valuable insights and prompt necessary adjustments.
- Reflect Regularly: Set aside time to evaluate decisions and consider whether current strategies align with evolving goals and information. Regular reflection fosters self-awareness and adaptability.
- Model Adaptability: Demonstrate a willingness to change course when warranted. Leaders who model adaptability set a precedent for their teams to embrace change positively.
In an era marked by rapid change and complex challenges, the ability to change one’s mind is not a liability but a vital leadership skill. By understanding the psychological barriers to change and actively working to overcome them, leaders can make more informed decisions, foster innovation, and build trust within their organizations and communities.
Embracing adaptability and open-mindedness paves the way for more resilient and effective leadership.
The Leadership Advantage of Changing Your Mind
This FAA (Focus-Align-Act) guide distills the key message of the blog into actionable steps that leaders can use to build adaptability and cognitive flexibility into their mindset and team culture.
FOCUS: Embrace Adaptive Leadership
Core Insight:
In a world that evolves faster than ever, effective leadership isn’t about being always right—it’s about being always learning. The ability to change your mind based on new evidence or shifting contexts is a superpower, not a weakness.
Key Question:
Where in your leadership are you clinging to consistency instead of reaching for clarity?
Mindset Shift:
Rather than fearing the label of “inconsistency,” reframe mind-changing as intellectual honesty and courageous growth.
ALIGN: Shift Culture and Expectations
Reframe Change as Strength
Normalize the narrative that a leader who adapts based on new evidence is wise, not weak. Share examples of well-known pivots that created breakthrough innovation (e.g., Reed Hastings at Netflix, Howard Schultz at Starbucks).
- Create Psychological Safety Encourage team members to challenge assumptions, including your own. Model openness to being wrong so others feel safe doing the same.
- Design Feedback Loops Embed regular feedback cycles—quarterly reviews, retrospectives, or “What changed?” meetings—to scan for shifts in circumstances, data, or needs.
- Anchor in Principles, Not Positions Clarify and share your decision-making principles with your team. This allows you to stay aligned with your values while being flexible in your methods.
ACT: Build the Muscle to Pivot
Here are three practical actions you can take this week to become more adaptable and lead with clarity, not rigidity:
Schedule a 30-Minute “Assumption Audit”
Block time to ask yourself:
- What beliefs or strategies have I outgrown?
- What new data or experiences should be challenging my current view?
- Where might I be doubling down out of ego rather than evidence?
Ask Your Team:
“What’s one area where you think I might be missing the mark—or where we could be open to change?” Make this part of your regular 1:1s or team meetings. Reward honesty and curiosity.
Use This Decision Filter:
Before making a major decision or recommitting to an old one, ask:
- What has changed?
- What new information do we have?
- What context makes this a different situation than before?
This keeps your leadership dynamic and anchored in reality—not in outdated perceptions.
Final Reflection
“I’d rather change my mind than fake certainty.”
A motto worth adopting for any leader serious about making impact in an uncertain world.
Challenge:
Write down one belief or decision you’re currently holding onto—then ask yourself, “What evidence would make me change my mind?” If you can’t answer that, you may not be leading—you may just be defending.
Two Blueprints, Need One?
The Demand Blueprint gives you a simple, battle-tested system to attract more leads, convert them into loyal customers, and scale with confidence.
With small, actionable steps and a four-week plan, this guide will help you fix the root cause of weak demand, build trust-based sales relationships, and create real-time engagement that drives sustainable growth.
The Demand Blueprint is usually $9.99, but as a Paper Napkin Wisdom subscriber, you save 50%. For just $5, you’ll get a clear, step-by-step roadmap to help you move from inconsistent sales to predictable, scalable growth.
The Profit Blueprint (an e-book) gives you a simple, battle-tested system to take control of your finances—whether in your business or your household. With small, actionable steps and a four week plan, this guide will help you stop running out of money and start building financial freedom. The Profit Blueprint is usually $9.99 but as a Paper Napkin Wisdom subscriber you save 50%. For just $5, you’ll get a clear, step-by-step roadmap to turn profit into a habit, not an accident.
Week in review
This week on the Paper Napkin Wisdom podcast, we explored two transformative episodes that tackled impactful themes of leadership, resilience, and harnessing potential.
In Episode 234, Bryce North shares his transformative journey of betting on himself and the profound lessons learned along the way. After navigating the challenges of a toxic business partnership, Bryce made the difficult decision to walk away from a venture he had built, realizing that true growth often stems from making the hardest choices. Bryce underscores the importance of humor as a tool for healing and connection, illustrating how laughter can be a bridge between trauma and transformation.His candid reflections serve as a testament to the resilience required in entrepreneurship and the value of aligning one's ventures with personal values and authenticity. Listen now on Apple.
In Episode 235, Julie Whitney shares her inspiring journey from a 25-year career in public relations to becoming a children's author.Motivated by her husband's emotional connection to retired airplanes during the pandemic, she penned Astra the Lonely Airplane, a story that embodies themes of resilience, belonging, and hope.Julie's pivot highlights the power of listening to one's creative instincts and the impact of purposeful storytelling.Her mantra, "It only takes ONE yes," serves as a reminder that meaningful change often begins with a single affirmative step. Listen now on Apple.
Check them out here:
