Black Box Thinking: Growth Mindset and the Secrets of High Performance

by Matthew Syed

I met with Alastair Campbell, Blair’s former head of communications and one of his most trusted lieutenants. We talked at length about the phenomenon of cognitive dissonance. Campbell was characteristically thoughtful, talking about the build-up to war and the pressure-cooker atmosphere in Downing Street. I asked him if he still backed the decision to go to war. ‘There are times when I wonder about it, particularly when news comes through of more deaths,’ he said. ‘But on balance, I think we were right to get rid of Saddam.’ Do you think it is possible that you could ever change your mind, I asked? ‘It would be difficult, given what we have been through, but it’s not impossible,’ he said. And what about Tony, I asked. ‘Think about what it would mean if he admitted he was wrong,’ Campbell replied. ‘It would overshadow everything he had ever worked for. It would taint his achievements. Tony is a rational and strong-minded guy, but I don’t think he would be able to admit that Iraq was a mistake. It would be too devastating, even for him.’