Andrew McAfee’s Post

There is a mental sharpness that comes from being around good people. And a meeting of minds can help people see their ideas with new clarity, refine them, and shape them into brilliant insights. This requires discussion partners who can challenge each other and stimulate thought - people who focus on the idea without involving their egos in the discussion; people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker. Two friends who bring their ideas together can help each other become sharper.

Andrew McAfee is reclaiming and redefining the word 'Geek'. In his book *The Geek Way* he liberates the term from the IT crowd and places it squarely in the lexicon of leadership, arguing the case for a radical geek mindset that drives extraordinary results. It's as much about what geeks are not, as what they are. They are not deferential to experts, fond of planning and process, afraid of mistakes, or obsessed with winning. But they do exemplify an ability to cooperate intensely and learn rapidly. Proponents of science, ownership, speed, and openness, they mastermind cultures that are freewheeling, fast-moving, egalitarian, evidence-driven, argumentative, and autonomous. Perhaps we all need to embrace a little bit more 'geek chic' in the workplace? #geekchic #workplaceculture

THE ROCK OF EQUIPOISE 🪨/🔝 Did you know that In the early 2000s, a group of visionary leaders in the tech industry began exploring new approaches to management, seeking to create more inclusive and diverse teams? They drew inspiration from various sources, including nature, psychology, and philosophy. One of these managers, a woman named Maya, was on a hiking trip in the mountains when she came across a peculiar gray rock. It stood out from the surrounding landscape, yet blended in seamlessly. Maya was struck by the rock's unique ability to maintain its identity while adapting to its environment. Maya began using the term "Gray Rock Effect" to describe the supervision approach she and her colleagues were developing. They sought to create a work environment where diverse perspectives could thrive, much like the gray rock's ability to coexist with its surroundings. By the 2010s, the Gray Rock Effect had become a movement, inspiring a new generation of leaders to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. Today, the term is synonymous with brave, modern leadership that fosters a culture of belonging and empowers teams to reach their full potential. In the depths of human interaction, a contradictory dance unfolds - the push and pull of perspectives, the ebb and flow of emotions. As an authority, navigating this labyrinthine landscape requires a singular approach: the "gray rock" technique. This arcane concept embodies the essence of detachment, a steadfast refusal to be swayed by the turbulent tides of conflict. Like a rock weathering the cyclone, the gray rock skipper remains unmoved yet profoundly present. In this equipoise state, the executive transcends the limitations of personal biases, allowing the clarity of objectivity to illuminate the path forward. The gray rock's neutrality is not a passive absence of opinion but an active choice to prioritize the greater good. It is the wisdom to discern the essential from the brief, the signal from the noise. Through this lens, the boss beholds the crew's eclectic tapestry, woven from threads of distinct experiences and perspectives. Each individual is a universe unto themselves, yet interconnected within the cosmic fabric of the organization. The gray rock's stillness is not stagnation, but a dynamic equipoise that harmonizes the contradictions, allowing the team to find its own rhythm and flow. Ultimately, the gray rock technique is a metaphor for the boss's inner journey, a path that winds through the labyrinth of their own soul, to emerge transformed, like a rock polished by the trials of time.Oversight is not about being perfect, but about being present. Embrace the gray rock technique and become the rock of equipoise for your team. BY S.A.J Prioritize fairness and inclusivity. Be the rock that brings equilibrium and conformity to your squad. Share if you agree! #TheRockOfEquipoise #GrayRockLeadership #InclusiveLeadership #LeadershipGoals"

Are cynics perceived as more intelligent? The cynic would have you believe that they can see through the smoke and mirrors to the ‘truth’. But are they right?  The misconception of the cynical genius persists but it’s important to evaluate ideas from a balanced perspective, as Atlassian  explains in this. ⬇️ #cynicism #mindset #EmotionalIntelligence 

ITS JUST A CONSPIRACY THEORY? I have lost count of the number of times over the last 5 years that this statement has been said to me, but it's amazing how much of what I have said since that time is now proving to be true. I spent over 40 years running my own business and would literally question everything. It was a natural thing to do - for me anyway? If someone told me something, before I took any action, I would check it out with many reliable and trusted sources. This would go right back to the early 80's when I subscribed to a personal development programme where I started reading personal development books and assisting with successful or success focused people. Association is a powerful ally for us - so long as it's with the right people. Being in business made me a critical thinker. I always asked WHY - the most powerful question you can ever ask. It's how we learn. Another question I asked was WHAT IF? What if I lost my biggest customer? What if I lost the best member of my team? Asking these questions kept me sharp, and kept me in business for over 40 years. So here is a question for you to ponder. "How many conspiracy theorists does it take for something to cease being a conspiracy?"

Great article, as always by Morgan Housel. Main ideas that I fully resonate with: 1. Very smart people can fool themselves with elaborate stories about why something happened. 2. Being very smart makes it harder to listen to people who are less credentialed than you, even when they might have the right answer. 3. Having an intellectual reputation to maintain can make it difficult to change your mind when you need to.

Paradigm shifts become necessary when the plausibility structure of the previous paradigm becomes so full of holes and patchwork “fixes” that a complete overhaul, which once looked utterly threatening, now appears as a lifeline.” – Richard Rohr on Kuhn’s “Paradigm Shift” A paradigm shift is a major change in how people think and get things done that upends and replaces a prior paradigm. There is often resistance to a new paradigm coming from incumbents. Such are the times we live in today.

➠ Conflicting ideas and perspectives are good. We know this can lead to creativity, breakthroughs, and more, which is how we get and experience progress. ➠ The problem is that many people lack the skill to separate their own identities from their personal points of view in order to take that next step to consider different ideas. Check out the blog post below to learn more about how to make conflict work FOR us instead of AGAINST us.

  Irving Janis' theory of groupthink plunges us into the intricacies of group dynamics and the collective psyche. It sheds light on how the desire for consensus can transform an assembly of brilliant minds into a docile herd, trading rationality for illusory harmony. Decisions taken under the influence of groupthink often reveal a poignant irrationality, halfway between Greek tragedy and human comedy.   Imagine a board of directors made up of seasoned decision-makers. Each possesses unrivalled expertise, but as soon as you open the floor to debate, a strange alchemy takes over. Doubts are silenced, criticisms become inaudible whispers, and the overriding objective becomes unanimous agreement, not the search for truth. Groupthink subtly creeps in, erecting a facade of cohesion on the ruins of critical reflection. All it takes is for one member to voice a dissenting opinion, and he or she is promptly brought back into the fold of consensus, sometimes with thinly veiled condescension, as if critical thinking were a heresy in this sanctuary of agreement.   Cynically, we could say that groupthink transforms meetings into ritual ceremonies where the incense of consensus drowns out the fires of truth. The ridiculousness of the situation is clear for all to see: intelligent people intellectually self-mutilate, sacrificing their convictions on the altar of harmony. The price of this false peace? Dysfunctional decisions with sometimes disastrous consequences.   To illustrate this phenomenon, consider the Challenger space shuttle fiasco in 1986. NASA engineers and decision-makers ignored warnings about the potential dangers posed by the O-rings in the shuttle's boosters, fearing that the launch would be delayed yet again. The pressure to maintain the schedule and the desire to avoid dissension led to catastrophe. This incident reminds us that even the most brilliant minds can sink into the abyss of collective stupidity.   At this point, it's crucial to remember the wise words of Arthur Schopenhauer: "Every truth goes through three stages: first, it is ridiculed. Second, it is strongly opposed. Then it is taken for granted." Groupthink prevents emerging truths from passing through these stages, drowning them in the swamp of conformity.   So, how do we escape the clutches of groupthink? Encourage dissent, value minority opinions, and create a climate where criticism isn't synonymous with betrayal. Ultimately, a robust, rational decision is forged in the crucible of diverse opinions, not in the monochrome of forced consensus.   #FranckBometon #WriterAlchemist #GroupThink #Groupthink #IrvingJanis #CollectiveDecision #SocialPsychology #FatalConsensus     https://lnkd.in/ddMGkZ_t