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'Cognitive flexibility': The skill IQ tests miss about your talent

It is essentially about learning to learn and being able to be flexible about the way you learn.

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Cognitive flexibility provides us with the ability to see that what we are doing is not leading to success. (Representative photo: Shutterstock)

Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, Christelle Langley and Victoria Leong | The Conversation

IQ is often hailed as a crucial driver of success, particularly in fields such as science, innovation and technology. In fact, many people have an endless fascination with the IQ scores of famous people. But the truth is that some of the greatest achievements by our species have primarily relied on qualities such as creativity, imagination, curiosity and empathy.

Many of these traits are embedded in what scientists call “cognitive flexibility” – a skill that enables us to switch between different concepts, or to adapt behaviour to achieve goals in a novel or changing environment.