The Good Fight: With Guests Adam Grant & Tom Crouch

<p>Most of us would prefer to avoid an argument at work or at home. But there are times when arguments—at least when they’re civil—can help surface important information for decision-making. </p><p>In this episode of <i>Choiceology with</i><a href="http://www.katherinemilkman.com/"><i> Katy Milkman</i></a>, we look at situations where certain types of conflict can actually lead to better outcomes.</p><p>You’re probably familiar with the story of Orville and Wilbur Wright. The Wright brothers secured their place in history by achieving the world’s first sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in December of 1903. Less well known is the fact that the brothers would often argue intensely with each other over their engineering ideas.</p><p>Tom Crouch reveals the family culture of argument and debate inside the Wright home as the brothers were growing up, and he explains how that argumentative streak may have helped them solve a key problem in their quest for powered flight.</p><p>Tom D. Crouch is curator emeritus of the <a href="https://www.si.edu/">Smithsonian Institution</a> and the author of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/23827.The_Bishop_s_Boys"><i>The Bishop’s Boys: A Lifeof Wilbur and Orville Wright</i></a>.</p><p>A version of the Wright Brothers story appears in <a href="https://www.adamgrant.net/">Adam Grant’s</a> new book, <a href="https://www.adamgrant.net/book/think-again/"><i>Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know</i></a><i>. </i>Adam joins Katy to discuss how you can leverage constructive conflict to arrive at better decisions. He also explains how agreeableness can sometimes hold you back. </p><p>Adam Grant is the Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management at the <a href="https://mgmt.wharton.upenn.edu/">Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania</a>. He’s also host of the popular <a href="https://www.ted.com/">TED</a> podcast <a href="https://www.adamgrant.net/podcast/">WorkLife</a>.</p><p>Finally, Katy provides advice