Scott Barry Kaufmanncognitive scientist and humanistic psychologist and founder of the Center for Human Potential, delivered a keynote address at the recent 15Five Thrive conference in Austin, Texas.
Passionate about human potential, Scott spoke about many aspects of his research on personal development and fulfillment, from the value of effort over talent, to embracing inspiration in the workplace, to reframing Abraham Maslow’s famous hierarchy of needs. .
redefining intelligence
Scott Barry Kaufman is perhaps best known for his work redefining intelligence. Simply defined, typical intelligence is our ability to apply knowledge and skills to practical situations; Conventional IQ tests measure reasoning and problem-solving skills.
But Scott believes that intelligence is something more fluid and personal. “In 2013, I thought we needed a new definition of intelligence that really took the whole person into account,” he explains. “So I defined intelligence as the dynamic interplay of ability and commitment, in pursuit of personal goals.”
In this new paradigm, people reach their full potential, discovering the true intelligence of which they are capable, when they engage in work that they find meaningful, interesting and inspiring.
“It’s a feedback loop,” continues Scott. “The more we engage in our interests and abilities, the more we will be able to reach our potential.”
Rethinking Maslow’s self-actualization theories
Abraham Maslow is one of the best-known humanistic psychologists of all time, and a personal favorite of Scott Barry Kaufman.
Maslow is most famous for his hierarchy of needs. Often depicted as a pyramid, this framework begins with basic physical needs like food and shelter, and progresses through social and intellectual fulfillment to self-actualization and transcendence at the top.
Rethinking how we understand this famous theory has been a central task of Scott’s career, as well as providing a renewed appreciation for some of Maslow’s lesser-known and lesser-appreciated theories.
A new metaphor for human needs
Did you know that Maslow’s hierarchy is not actually a pyramid?
“Maslow never drew a pyramid!” Scott explains. “He made it very clear that life is not like a video game, where we get to one level and then move on to the next. It is not so simple.
Instead, Scott proposes the sailboat metaphor. Those basic needs are what keep you afloat or survive, but self-actualization is opening the sails and venturing out on the water.
“You’re not going anywhere if you stay on the boat your whole life,” he explains. “You can feel safe, have all your needs met, but ultimately you have to open that sail and know the port you are going to sail to. That is his long-term goal. And along the way, you have to be able to weather the storms.”
Characteristics of self-actualized people
Maslow’s work on self-actualization extends beyond the iconic hierarchy. After studying Maslow’s unpublished journals, Scott identified 10 characteristics of self-actualizing people that can be measured using modern scientific methods.
These 10 characteristics of self-actualized people are:
- creative spirit
- Authenticity
- search for truth
- Acceptance
- continuous freshness of appreciation
- peak experiences
- good moral intuition
- humanitarianism
- Equanimity
- Purpose
As part of his research, Scott created a self-assessment that anyone can use to explore how these traits play out in their own life. It is available free to everyone. on their website, along with other self-actualization tests.
Inspiration in the workplace
“Inspiration is a word you don’t see often in organizational psychology,” says Scott. “I try to introduce him to that world.”
Scott believes that inspiration is critical not only to doing our best work, but also to becoming our best selves.
Scott’s research has identified three main qualities of inspiration.
- It is spontaneous, and without intention. It usually transcends selfish goals and concerns.
- Create motivation and enthusiasm to start working on what inspires you.
- It is put into action by a stimulus or trigger.
Other scientific research has found that being in a state of inspiration creates a sense of optimism for the future and improves the way people perceive their own competence.
“Going from an uninspired to an inspired state changes the way you see yourself,” says Scott. “Improve your vision of what you are capable of doing with your life.”
“One of the most powerful sources of creative energy, outstanding achievement, and self-fulfillment seems to be falling in love with a future image of yourself—a dream for a possible future.”
Effort over Talent
To help us achieve amazing things in the workplace, Scott shared something amazing: a mathematical formula developed by Angela Duckworth and her colleagues, and discussed in depth in a 2015 article co-authored by Angela and Scott.
Experience = Talent x Effort
“Distance, or how far you can go in life, equals talent times effort,” he shares. “Talent is important in the early stages, but effort counts more in the long run. That is why we must reward effort, above talent, in the workplace. As a business leader, just know that if you select for effort, you are selecting for greater achievement in the long run.”
Thriving to reach our full potential
Self-actualization and the realization of our full potential is an inherently personal process.
“Trust your own compassion that is actualized,” says Scott. “We all have this thing inside of us that knows when we’re moving in the direction of growth.”
The goal is to change, but in the service of becoming your most self-actualized self.
To sum it up, Scott shares a previously unpublished quote from Abraham Maslow: “We try to make a good rose out of a rose, instead of looking to make lilies out of roses.”
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