Being open-minded is a superpower. Unfortunately, it’s rare to meet a person who’s open to new ideas and perspectives. Getting people open to new ideas and perspectives is an everyday challenge. But what about when you’re being close-minded? Can you snap yourself out of it?

Let me share a practical self-reflection technique for detecting closed-mindedness that you can use at the moment. I’ll call it the “Pause and Question” method.

When you encounter a new idea or perspective that you feel immediate resistance to, pause and ask yourself these specific questions:

1. “What’s my first reaction, and where is it coming from?” For example, if someone suggests a different approach to a problem at work and you immediately think “That won’t work,” notice that reaction. Is it based on prior experience, fear of change, or an assumption you haven’t examined?
2. “Can I steelman this opposing view?” Try to articulate the best possible version of the perspective you’re resisting. If you can’t explain it in a way that the person holding that view would agree with, you might be dismissing it too quickly.
3. “What would need to be true for this other perspective to make sense?” Instead of focusing on why something is wrong, imagine what conditions or assumptions would make it right. This often reveals our hidden assumptions.
4. “Am I confusing familiarity with correctness?” We often prefer what we know simply because we know it, not because it’s better. Challenging this bias helps us become more receptive to new ideas.

A Real-world Example of Using This Technique

Let’s say a colleague suggests switching to a completely new project management methodology. Your immediate reaction might be, “Our current system works fine, why change it?” This is your cue to pause and run through the questions:

• Is your reaction coming from genuine evaluation or just resistance to change?
• Can you articulate the new system’s benefits as enthusiastically as its proponent would?
• What circumstances might make the new system superior?
• Are you defending the current system just because it’s familiar?

By consistently applying the “Pause and Question” method, you train yourself to approach new perspectives with curiosity rather than defensiveness. Over time, this habit fosters a growth mindset, enabling you to make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and continuously evolve.

Practical Ways to Strengthen Open-Mindedness

If you want to further develop your ability to be open-minded, here are a few additional practices:

• Seek out contradictory information: Make a habit of reading or listening to viewpoints that challenge your beliefs.
• Engage in active listening: Instead of formulating a rebuttal, focus on truly understanding the other person’s perspective.
• Reflect on past mistakes: Consider times when you were wrong and how being open-minded could have helped you reach a better outcome sooner.
• Surround yourself with diverse thinkers: Engage with people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and opinions to expand your perspective.

Try using the “Pause and Question” method the next time you find yourself rejecting an idea too quickly. You might be surprised by what you learn—not just about the idea but about yourself.

Bottom line: Being open-minded is a superpower. Many people equate decisiveness with strength and changing one’s mind with weakness. In reality, the ability to reconsider and adapt is a competitive advantage. The ability to entertain ideas without judgment is incredibly valuable in a world that is constantly evolving, and those who refuse to update their perspectives risk stagnation. Open-mindedness isn’t about agreeing with everything; it’s about being willing to challenge our assumptions and grow.