What is the 'shoshin' mindset which promotes intellectual humility in the workplace?

The concept of "shoshin" implies taking a more humble intellectual stance. Image: Shutterstock

It's often said that practice makes perfect. And this proverb can be applied to the corporate world, where professional experience is often valued more highly than skills. But proponents of "shoshin" believe that employees should sometimes try to think more like rookies.

"Shoshin" is a Japanese term, derived from Zen Buddhist philosophy, which translates as the "beginner's mind." It refers to the idea of embracing the same kind of openness, eagerness and lack of preconceptions as a beginner would have when approaching something new. "I like to think of 'shoshin' as opening your eyes for the very first time. It is a state of being completely present in the moment, taking in what is here right now, free from past experiences, contexts, assumptions or bias," life and career coach Sarah Lloyd, tells Stylist magazine.

We all have cognitive biases that limit us intellectually. Some people think they're better protected than others from these mental preconceptions, not recognizing their own limitations. Indeed, they may themselves be victims of a cognitive bias known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. This phenomenon, theorized in 1999, leads people to wrongly overestimate their knowledge or ability in a specific area. This can lead them to make poor decisions.

The concept of "shoshin" takes the opposite approach. It involves taking a more modest and humble intellectual stance. Indeed, the saying goes that to err is human. But we tend to forget this, especially in the professional sphere. In the world of work, many people seek to be right at all costs.

They don't hesitate to use weak or even fallacious arguments to have the last word with their counterpart.